COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Age Discrimination

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the Government intend to introduce legislation on age discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services.

Meg Munn: The discrimination law review is considering the case for prohibiting age discrimination in the provisions of goods, facilities and services and the exercise of public functions. We expect to publish a Green Paper around the turn of the year. The Green Paper is intended to lead to a single equality Bill, in line with the Government's manifesto to introduce such a Bill in this Parliament.

Cash Machines

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions have taken place between her Department and banks and building societies on the location of cash machines and crime reduction; and if she will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: I refer to the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for South Derbyshire (Mr. Todd) on 23 October 2006,  Official Report, column 1657W. There have been no discussions between the Department for Communities and Local Government, and its predecessors, and banks and buildings societies on the location of cash machines and crime reduction. However, representatives from the industry held a meeting with Home Office Ministers on 10 October 2006.

Correspondence

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she will reply to the letter from Woburn Sands town council of 20 June about the proposed expansion of Milton Keynes.

Yvette Cooper: A reply was sent to the Clerk to the Councillors of Woburn Sands town council on 21 July 2006 by the Government Office South East.

Councillor Conduct

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations she has received from the Adjudication Panel for England on clarification of the councillors' code of conduct.

Phil Woolas: The Adjudication Panel's annual report for the year ending 31 March 2006 includes its formal response to a review of the code of conduct which was carried out by the Standards Board for England in 2005 at the request of Ministers. It can be viewed at www.adjudicationpanel.co.uk/documents/pdf_annual_report_2006_for website2.pdf, and copies have also been placed in the Library of the House.

Councillor Conduct

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance the Government and Standards Board of England has provided to local authority councillors on avoiding  (a) bias and  (b) the appearance of bias in addition to the local government code of conduct for councillors.

Phil Woolas: The Department for Communities and Local Government has issued no guidance on bias. This is a legal concept which the courts have always applied to local authority decision-making. It predates the code of conduct and is not altered by it.
	The standards board's guidance, Lobby Groups, Dual-Hatted Members and the Code of Conduct, published in September 2004, contains some general advice on bias in order to draw a distinction between this and the separate issue of personal and prejudicial interests, which is covered by the code. The board issued a press release on 19 September which also referred to this issue.

Empty Dwellings

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of empty dwellings management orders; and if she will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: In the regulatory impact assessment for the Housing Act 2004, a commitment was made to monitor the effectiveness of empty dwelling management orders in reducing the number of private sector empty homes through 'annual' monitoring of vacant dwellings data and local authority best value performance indicator returns. The regulatory impact assessment also committed the Department to commission, within three years of enactment, specific research into the use of these new powers by local authorities and the impact on property owners to ensure that there are no unintended consequences.
	The provisions in the Housing Act 2004, regarding empty dwelling management orders commenced in April 2006. Therefore, no assessment has yet been made of the effect of these measures.

Empty Dwellings

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities offer empty homes grants.

Yvette Cooper: This information is not held by this Department.

Energy Performance Certificates

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove) of 9 October 2006,  Official Report, column 367W, on energy performance certificates, whether an energy performance certificate will be required before a property owner can  (a) privately let a domestic dwelling and  (b) renew any existing rent agreement that was signed before the implementation of EU directive 2002/91/EC.

Yvette Cooper: EU directive 2002/91/EC, the energy performance of buildings directive, requires member states to introduce measures that require energy performance certificates to be made available when buildings are constructed, sold or rented out. Private rentals are included in the scope of the directive, which must be fully implemented by January 2009.
	In consideration of rent renewals we are still working with key stakeholders to finalise the approach.

English Partnerships (Developers' Requirements)

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the standard requirements of developers on English Partnerships land are; and if she will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: English Partnerships sets quality standards covering 16 criteria which are mandatory for development of its sites and for its funding. These were adopted in September 2005 and can be found at:
	http://www.englishpartnerships.co.uk/qualityprice.htm
	These standards pull together in one place a set of existing nationally recognised industry standards with independent validation. They are kept under review to ensure they continue to be stretching and up-to-date. English Partnerships will continue to push for higher standards on specific programmes including the Millennium Communities Programme, the Design for Manufacture competition and its successor competition where enhanced development briefs are adopted for low carbon communities.

Environmental Building Standards

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment she has made of the requirements made by planning and policy guidance applying to environmental building standards; and if she will take steps to ensure that they are amended to assist the reduction of the carbon footprint of new buildings.

Yvette Cooper: National planning policy set out in planning policy statement 1 (PPS1) expects the development plans prepared by regional planning bodies and local planning authorities to contribute to global sustainability through policies which reduce energy use, reduce emissions (for example, by encouraging patterns of development which reduce the need to travel by private car, or reduce the impact of moving freight) and promote the development of renewable energy resources.
	We have said we will publish for consultation by the end of the year a new PPS on climate change. This will set out how the Government expect participants in the planning process to work towards the reduction of carbon emissions in the location, siting and design of new development.

Gambling Act

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance  (a) the former Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and  (b) the Government Offices of the regions have produced for regional assemblies in relation to the Gambling Act 2005.

Yvette Cooper: No guidance has been issued by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister or the Government Offices of the regions for the regional assemblies in relation to the Gambling Act 2005.
	The Government published a statement of national policy on casinos on 16 December 2004. This statement includes guidance on planning for casinos by regional planning bodies and also deals with the role of regional planning bodies in connection with the work of the independent advisory panel which provides advice to the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport on the areas in which casinos should be located.
	The ODPM worked closely with DCMS in drafting a letter of 27 October 2005, from DCMS to the north- west regional assembly, clarifying the role of regional planning bodies and their regional spatial strategies in relation to the work of the casino advisory panel, reflecting the advice set out in the December 2004 statement.

Housing

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) council tenant households and  (b) housing association tenants there were in England in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Yvette Cooper: There were 2,117,000 occupied dwellings owned by local authorities and 1,833,000 owned by registered social landlords in England on April 1 2005. These figures are as reported by local authorities to the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Housing

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps her Department is taking to increase the supply of shared private sector accommodation suitable for single people.

Yvette Cooper: The Government have no plans to influence the market for the supply of shared private sector accommodation suitable for single people. However the growth of the private rented sector in recent years through 'Buy to Let' has led to a substantial increase in the supply of accommodation for young sharers, notably students, so that almost half of the tenants catered for by the sector are now under 35.

Housing

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average cost is of renovating an empty home in each of the housing low demand pathfinder areas in England.

Yvette Cooper: We do not hold information on the cost of renovating empty homes in pathfinder areas. However the pathfinders do provide figures for the average cost of all refurbishments and improvements carried out each year, including refurbishments to the decent homes standard as well as more minor improvements. The following table lists average costs for 2005-06. We do not know how many of the refurbished or improved properties were empty.
	
		
			  Pathfinder  Average cost of refurbishments and improvements carried out during 2005-06 (£000) 
			 Birmingham Sandwell 1.9 
			 East Lancashire 9.0 
			 Hull and East Riding(1) n/a 
			 Manchester Salford 5.2 
			 Merseyside 0.4 
			 Newcastle Gateshead 17.0 
			 North Staffordshire 0.7 
			 Oldham Rochdale 2.1 
			 South Yorkshire 14.0 
			 (1) We do not have a figure for Hull and East Riding because they did not carry out any refurbishments or improvements in 2005-06.

Housing

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of housing stock has a standard assessment procedure rating of 65 or more.

Yvette Cooper: In 2004 20 per cent. of the housing stock in England had a standard assessment procedure of 65 or more.

Housing

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what financial incentives she will offer Mid Sussex district council to deliver the Department's housing targets.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 26 October 2006
	The Government have recently consulted on a housing and planning and delivery grant as a potential incentive for local authorities to help deliver additional housing to respond to the housing needs of their communities. The consultation closed on 17 October and the Government are currently considering the responses to it.

Housing

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people are on the housing waiting list in the London borough of Sutton.

Yvette Cooper: There were 3,408 households on the housing waiting list in Sutton, as at 1 April 2006(1).
	Not everyone on the waiting list is necessarily in urgent housing need. The waiting list includes those who consider social housing as their preferred or one of a number of housing options, and those who decide to get on to the waiting list ladder before they need or want to move house.
	 Source:
	(1) Department for Communities and Local Governments Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix, HSSA).

Housing

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many right to buy  (a) applications and  (b) sales there were in the North East of England in each year since 1980.

Yvette Cooper: The numbers of right-to-buy applications and sales can be found on the Department's website:
	http://wvw.communities.gov.uk/pub/383/Table648_id1156383.xls

Land Classification

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 2 October 2006,  Official Report, columns 2541-45W, on land classification, what assessment she has made of the reason for the change in vacant and derelict land and buildings in Southend-on-Sea between 2002 and 2003; and if she will list the three vacant and derelict sites in Southend-on-Sea in 2003.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 30 October 2006
	In 2002 Southend-on-Sea borough council reported three vacant or derelict sites in its return to the national land use database of previously-developed land:
	Shoeburyness Old Ranges, Campfield road—76 hectares;
	64 to 65 Eastern Esplanade (northern part of former Gas Board site)—2.6 hectares;
	Former Queen's Hotel, Hamlet Court road—0.4 hectares.
	In 2003 the first of these three sites had been developed and was removed from the database. The other two were still undeveloped. No new vacant or derelict sites were reported in 2003.

Landlords

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many local authorities require private sector landlords to register with them as a condition of renting properties.

Yvette Cooper: There is not, nor has there ever been, a statutory requirement or power for local authorities to require all private landlords to register with them in order to rent out properties. The legislation under which authorities could require private landlords who operated houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) to register their properties with them has been replaced by the licensing provisions of the Housing Act 2004. These include requirements for mandatory licensing and transitional provisions for existing HMO registration schemes.

Local Government White Paper

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to her statement of 26 October 2006,  Official Report, column 1657, on the local government White Paper, what information was made available by her Department before her statement to local councillors which enabled them to express their views on her proposals.

Phil Woolas: We have engaged extensively with external stakeholders on the issues considered in the local government White Paper. Through the 'local:vision' process we formally consulted a wide range of stakeholders across the public, private and the third sector, on key issues for local government. We have also held innovative city summits, ministerial dialogues and continued our regular discussions with local authorities individually and through representative bodies including the Local Government Association.
	Local councillors have been able to express their views in a number of ways and they have been instrumental in developing the policy content.

Mayors

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the requirements are for a local authority to move from a directly elected mayor to a non-mayoral executive structure.

Phil Woolas: Under section 27 of the Local Government Act 2000 a local authority must resolve to hold a referendum, consult on the detail of the proposed change to a non-mayoral executive structure, and hold a referendum on whether or not to make the change. If a majority of those voting are in favour of the change, the authority must implement it.

Mobile Telephone Masts

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many planning applications for mobile telephone masts were  (a) referred to and  (b) granted by the Planning Inspectorate in each of the last five years.

Yvette Cooper: The following table shows the number of planning appeals  (a) received, decided and  (b) allowed by the Planning Inspectorate concerning telecommunication masts, aerials, dishes and antenna from each year from 2000 to 2006 (January to September). It is not possible to extract numbers for those appeals relating solely to telephone masts.
	
		
			   Appeals 
			   (a) Received  Decided  (b) Allowed 
			 2000 313 167 109 
			 2001 623 437 276 
			 2002 871 761 517 
			 2003 637 705 413 
			 2004 762 478 252 
			 2005 800 797 424 
			 2006(1) 667 593 324 
			 (1) January to September.

New Homes (Design Standards)

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans there are to merge Housing Corporation and English Partnership new build design standards for homes.

Yvette Cooper: Common standards on housing regarding sustainability already apply to English Partnerships and the Housing Corporation. Since 1 April 2006 all new homes funded by each body have had to meet EcoHomes 2006 Very Good standard. The code for sustainable homes is currently being finalised and is due to be published before the end of the year. It will make it a requirement that all new homes funded by English Partnerships and the Housing Corporation will have to meet a minimum of level 3 of the code.
	In the meanwhile English Partnerships and the Housing Corporation will continue to work together to identify areas of commonality in new build design standards for homes and best practices so both can learn from each others experiences.
	We are currently reviewing English Partnerships and the Housing Corporation as part of the review of the institutional structures for delivering housing and regeneration, and we expect to make an announcement shortly.

Overview and Scrutiny Committees

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the way in which council overview and scrutiny committees use their powers  (a) to monitor proposed changes in the NHS and  (b) to make representations to the Secretary of State for Health.

Phil Woolas: My Department has made no such assessment.

PFI Projects

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much has been spent by her Department on private finance initiative projects postponed pending further consideration or stopped in the last 12 months.

Yvette Cooper: Only two projects sponsored by the Department for Communities and Local Government have been stopped in the last 12 months and one postponed. The amount spent is associated with staff time for which costs have not been recorded. The cost of obtaining these figures is likely to be disproportionate in relation to the amount spent.

Planning (Flood Plains)

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the  (a) timetable and  (b) purpose is of the revision to planning policy guidance on flood plains and flooding; and if she will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: We expect to publish a new planning policy statement 25 later this year. This will strengthen and clarify planning policy to ensure that flood risk is taken into account at all stages in the planning process to avoid inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding, and to direct development away from areas at highest risk. Where new development is, exceptionally, necessary in such areas, policy aims to make it safe, without increasing flood risk elsewhere, and, where possible, reducing flood risk overall.

Planning (London Mayor)

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations she has received from those organisations representing business in London on the proposed increase in the planning powers of the Mayor of London; and if she will place copies in the Library.

Yvette Cooper: Organisations representing business in London who responded on the planning proposals in the Government's consultation document 'The Greater London Authority: The Government's proposals for additional powers and responsibilities for the Mayor and Assembly' are set out as follows. The consultation exercise was held between 30 November 2005 and 22 February 2006. Copies of all responses to the consultation were placed in the Library of the House on 13 July 2006.
	Association of Consultant Architects
	British Hospitality Association
	Canary Wharf Group
	CBI
	Chartered Institution of Wastes Management
	Environmental Services Association
	Home Builders Federation
	Institute of Civil Engineers
	London First
	London Retail Consortium
	South London Business
	West London Business
	We are currently consulting on how the detailed operation of the Mayor's new development control power will best work in practice. This consultation exercise ends on 2 November and a summary of the responses will be published by 2 February 2007.
	Aside from the responses received to the current planning consultation, the Secretary of State has received a letter commenting on the planning proposals from one organisation representing business in London—London First. A copy of the letter has been placed in the Library of the House.

Public Requests Ordering Disposal

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many public requests ordering disposal have been received by the Government in each year since 1997; and how many such orders were made in each year.

Yvette Cooper: Since 1997, the Government have received 14 public requests ordering disposal under Section 98 of the Local Government Planning and Land Act 1980. The following table shows the year in which each request was received:
	
		
			   Number of requests 
			 1997 2 
			 1998 0 
			 1999 0 
			 2000 3 
			 2001 0 
			 2002 0 
			 2003 0 
			 2004 1 
			 2005 5 
			 2006 3 
		
	
	None of these requests resulted in a direction being issued.

Section 106 Agreements

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on how many occasions in the last five years section 106 agreements have been included in the approval of a planning application by the Planning Inspectorate.

Yvette Cooper: The Planning Inspectorate does not hold information on the number of appeals that have involved section 106 agreements.

Social Housing

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many affordable housing units  (a) built and  (b) procured through the Housing Corporation National affordable Housing Programme in 2005-06 were (i) mixed funded social rented housing, (ii) temporary social rented housing, (iii) homebuy general market purchase, (iv) homebuy general new build, (v) mixed funded low cost home ownership for sale, (vi) miscellaneous works to registered social landlord (RSL) stock, (vii) reimprovements to rented RSL stock, (viii) works only rehabilitation of rented RSL stock, (ix) works only rehabilitation of RSL stock for sale, (x) intermediate rent for key workers, (xi) homebuy market purchase for key workers, (xii) homebuy new build for key workers, (xiii) mixed funded sale for key workers and (xiv) starter home initiative in the north-east region in each year since 1997-98; and how much was spent on each category.

Yvette Cooper: The following table shows completions, new build and procured, through the Housing Corporation affordable housing programme (formerly the approved development programme), for categories from (i) to (ix).
	The key worker living programme is limited to London and the wider south-east, therefore there are no completions in the north-east region.
	
		
			  Completions in Units for the north-east region from 1997-98 to 2004-05 
			  Allocation statement 
			   1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-08 
			  (i) Mixed funded social rent 
			 New build 1,027 807 691 442 648 285 513 560 612 910 
			 Procured 202 167 68 98 32 70 70 52 23 12 
			
			  (ii) Temporary social rented housing 
			 New build 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Procured 39 9 2 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			
			  (iii) Homebuy market purchase 
			 New build n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Procured 0 0 0 18 11 8 3 3 4 3 
			
			  (iv) Homebuy new build 
			 New build n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 66 n/a 
			 Procured n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			
			  (v) Mixed-funded low cost home ownership( 1) 
			 New build 182 130 87 93 110 6 21 88 73 228 
			 Procured 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			
			  (vi) Miscellaneous works 
			 New build n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Procured n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			
			  (vii) Re-improvements to rented RSL stock 
			 New build n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Procured n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			
			  (viii)Works-only re-hab for rented RSL stock 
			 New build n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Procured n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			
			  (ix) Works only re-hab of RSL stock for sale 
			 New build n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 (1) Shared Ownership completions from 1997-98 to 2005-06. In 2006-08 programme allocation for New Build HomeBuy.  Notes: 1. Miscellaneous works, re-improvements to rented RSL stock, works only rehabilitation of rented RSL stock and works only rehabilitation of RSL stock for sale are not recorded as completed dwellings as they may have previously received funding and would therefore be double counted. 2. Figures for 2006-08 are based on the Housing Corporation's Allocation Statement for the North East following approval of their 2006-08 Affordable Housing Programme.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Legal Aid

John Baron: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  how much in legal aid money has been spent on the third generation combined oral contraceptive pill litigation; how much has been paid to each  (a) barrister and  (b) firm of solicitors in connection with the case; what hourly rate was paid in each case; and whether these payments represent risk rates paid so that service providers would be unlikely to profit in the eventuality of the case being unsuccessful;
	(2)  if she will list the  (a) barristers and  (b) firms of solicitors who acted for the legally aided claimants in the third generation combined oral contraceptive pill litigation.

Vera Baird: This case concerned a multi party action (MPA) against the manufacturers of Femodene and other third generation oral contraceptive pills, for allegedly causing personal injury, including cardiovascular injuries to those who consumed them. Approximately 120 women were funded to bring proceedings against the manufacturers. This culminated in a 13-week trial during 2002. The total cost to the legal aid fund was £9.9 million. The case did not succeed, but had it done so, then as with all civil cases against privately funded parties, significant damages would likely to have been awarded and the legal costs subsequently met by the opposing parties. The net cost to the legal aid fund would then have been very little, or even nothing.
	Legal aid was reformed in 2000 to exclude personal injury cases from receiving funding. However in some exceptional cases an independent panel of experts advises the Legal Services Commission (LSC) to grant funding, especially where the panel believes the case has "significant wider public interest", as they did with this litigation. Given the wide availability of Femodene and other third generation oral contraceptive pills, the panel decided that it was important for the public to know they could have confidence in the product licensing system and therefore advised the LSC to fund the litigation.
	The solicitor firms involved were Houghton and Co and Leigh Day and Co. Houghton and Co were paid £7,365,969 and £948,361 in disbursements. A single costs assessment certificate was issued by the court to Houghton and Co as the lead solicitor firm under the MPA contract. I understand that of this total, £1.8 million was paid to Leigh Day and Co.
	The solicitors were paid prescribed rates under the Legal Aid in Civil Proceedings (Remuneration) Regulations 1994. There are a variety of rates reflecting the work carried out.
	The rates for this action included the following:
	Preparation—£74.00 to £79.50 per hour
	Routine letters out —£7.40 to £7.50 per item
	Routine telephone calls—£4.10 to £4.15 per item
	Attending hearing or conference with counsel—£36.40 to £37.00 per hour
	Attending hearing without counsel—£32.70 to £33.25 per hour.
	Additionally, enhancements ranging between 75 per cent. to 200 per cent. were assessed as reasonable by the court for items of work carried out under these rates depending on the complexity of the specific work carried out.
	The barristers were paid under the brief fee and refresher fee structure applied to civil litigation, which did not then include hourly rates.
	The following table lists how much was paid by way of brief fees and refresher fees to barristers that were paid a brief fee in the action.
	
		
			  £ 
			  Barrister  Brief Fee  Refresher 
			 Lord Brennan Q.C. 250,000 97,500 
			 Robin Oppenheim 134,500 58,000 
			 William Edis 114,500 54,750 
			 Richard Hermer 104,500 40,000 
		
	
	Other barristers were also paid for work on the case but they were not paid brief fees or refresher fees and did not take part in the trial.
	Risk rates were not paid for this action. The funding arrangements were agreed before the introduction of the MPA contract terms in 1999, which introduced risk rates.

Parliamentary Boundaries

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether the Boundary Commission takes account of the number of European nationals eligible to vote in local elections but not in general elections when considering English parliamentary boundary changes.

Bridget Prentice: European nationals not eligible to vote in general elections are not taken account of by the Boundary Commission in their reviews of parliamentary constituency boundaries. This is because the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986 currently requires the Boundary Commission to work only with the
	"the number of persons whose names appear on the register of parliamentary electors".

Royal Family

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs which individuals have been designated as "other members of the Royal family" under section 37 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Vera Baird: My Department's guidance on section 37 (which is published at http://www.foi.gov.uk/guidance/exguide/sec37/annex_a.htm) contains a list of members of the royal family since 1 January 1975 (as at June 2004) comprising those entitled to use the title Majesty or Royal Highness and their spouses (since 1 January 1975). The list will change over time, especially through marriage or birth. This guidance was published in June 2004 and when it is next updated it will include newer members of the royal family such as the Duchess of Cornwall.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Digital Switchover

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment her Department has made of the likely effect of digital switchover on the economy; what assessment she has made of the consequences for the economy of changes to the planned timetable; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: The economic impact of digital switchover on the UK economy is set out in cost benefit analyses produced by DCMS and Department of Trade and Industry economists. The most recent estimates were published in a report by DCMS and DTI in February 2005. I am arranging for copies of the report to be placed in the Library of both Houses. The report is also available from www.digitaltelevision .gov.uk
	The February 2005 estimates indicated that a two-year delay in the completion of digital switchover would lead to a reduction of benefits of around £400 million in net present value terms, based on conservative assumptions about the future use of spectrum released by switchover.

Gambling Act

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 16 October 2006,  Official Report, column 978W, on the Gambling Act, 
	(1)  when the three-year period of assessment of the new casinos introduced under the Gambling Act 2005 will begin; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what the timetable for the assessment of the casino pilot schemes introduced under the Gambling Act 2005 will be; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: A scoping study is currently under way, which will establish the methodology for the assessment of the social and economic impact of the new casinos permitted by the Gambling Act 2005. It is due to report in December 2006.
	We will undertake baseline studies in 2007 in the relevant areas, once Parliament has approved the areas where the one regional, eight large and eight small casinos will be located. We will then undertake an assessment of the social and economic impact of the new casinos no earlier than three years after the award of the first premises licence.

Gambling Act

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will commission regular studies into the extent of problem gambling in the period  (a) running up to and  (b) following implementation of the Gambling Act 2005, with particular reference to online gambling.

Richard Caborn: The Gambling Commission is currently conducting a gambling prevalence study, which will report in September 2007 and provide a baseline for future studies to be conducted at three-yearly intervals.
	The researchers are collecting data on all types of gambling activity, including remote gambling.

Gambling Act

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what support  (a) her Department and  (b) the gambling industry provides to gambling support organisations; and whether such support is expected to increase after the implementation of the Gambling Act 2005.

Richard Caborn: The Gambling Act places a duty on gambling operators to behave in a socially responsible manner. Licensed operators will be expected to contribute to work on research, education and treatment of problem gambling through their policies, practices and support for other bodies, such as treatment providers.
	The industry has established the Responsibility in Gambling Trust to fund this and we have set a target of £3 million each year, once the Act is fully implemented. If more is needed, and not delivered by the industry, the Act has powers to impose a statutory levy. We will use those powers, if necessary.

Olympic Games

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will take steps to ensure that the 2012 Olympics will be carbon neutral.

Richard Caborn: Sustainable development was integral to our bid for the 2012 Olympic games and Paralympic games and is integral to their delivery. The principles we are following are to seek to reduce carbon emissions wherever possible, through demand reduction measures; reducing the carbon intensity of the energy through the use of combined cooling heat and power; energy efficiency measures; and through providing new renewable energy infrastructure. In addition, we will to seek to offset unavoidable emissions associated with the games through a carbon offsetting programme.
	Detailed planning work is under way to ensure that the facilities being built for the games take account of the need to minimise demand for energy in their construction and operation and that a proportion of the post-games energy demand is provided from on-site renewable sources, including wind, ground and solar energy. During the games themselves in addition to locally generated and off-site renewable energy use and plans for using public transport for spectators, we have committed to offset the carbon emissions from all officials and athletes travelling to the games and are looking to work with international partners to do so.

Olympic Games

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assurances have been given to the International Olympic Committee concerning post-2012 use of the main Olympic stadium.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 30 October 2006
	The London 2012 Candidate File, which was submitted to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in November 2004, set out that the Olympic stadium would be converted to a 25,000 seat multi-purpose venue with athletics at its core (volume 1, theme 1 concept and legacy). This was confirmed to the IOC Evaluation Commission when it visited London in February 2005 and during London 2012's presentation to the IOC in Singapore in July 2005 and remains the position.

Olympic Games

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions the Olympic Board has had on the post-2012 use of the main Olympic stadium; and what conclusions it has reached on the post-games seating capacity.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 30 October 2006
	The Olympic Board discussed options for the Olympic stadium at its meeting on 28 June 2006 and received an update from the Olympic Delivery Authority on the stadium design and build procurement process at its meeting on 25 July 2006. Summaries of Olympic Board meetings can be found on the London 2012 website at:
	http://www.london2012.com/en/ourvision/Olympic+Board/
	Any decisions on post-games use of the stadium, including seating capacity, will be taken by the Olympic Board in due course.

Playing Fields

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on what occasions since April 2000 the Playing Fields Monitoring Group has met; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: The Playing Fields Monitoring Group met 12 times from April 2000 on the following occasions: 10 July 2000; 6 October 2000; 12 January 2001; 14 June 2001; 26 September 2001; 17 December 2001; 15 January 2002; 11 April 2002; 6 November 2002; 29 January 2003; 21 May 2003; and 27 May 2004. This particular group no longer meets, but my Department continues to liaise closely with the organisations that were represented on the group.

Playing Fields

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate her Department has made of the change in the number of playing fields of an area of less than 0.4 hectares in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: Specific data on changes in numbers of sites of less than 0.4 hectares has not been centrally collected. However, since 2001-02, my Department has released information on the numbers of planning applications approved each year affecting sites which either were too small or of the wrong shape to accommodate a playing pitch as currently defined, as set out as follows. These figures will include applications affecting areas of less than 0.4 hectares:
	
		
			   Number  Representing percentage of the total approved applications 
			 2001-02 201 29 
			 2002-03 257 31 
			 2003-04 314 33 
			 2004-05 245 27 
		
	
	The Department for Communities and Local Government has committed to consulting on reducing from 0.4 hectares to 0.2 hectares the threshold at which Sport England must be consulted when a planning application for development is submitted. DCLG's consultation is intended to take place next year.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 4 September 2006,  Official Report, column 1688W, to the hon. Member for Vale of York (Miss McIntosh), on British troops (Afghanistan), if he will describe the welfare facilities for armed service personnel serving in  (a) Kabul,  (b) Camp Bastion,  (c) forward bases in Helmand province and  (d) other operational theatres.

Derek Twigg: Personnel serving in Kabul and Camp Bastion have access to the following Operational Welfare Package facilities:
	Expeditionary Forces Institute retail and leisure facilities.
	Access to the internet and 30 minutes of publicly funded telephone calls per week.
	A free Forces Aerogramme and Forces Postcard service and a subsidised postal packet scheme that allows parcels up to 2kg to be sent at the UK inland rate.
	An electronic Aerogramme service.
	Televisions and British Forces Broadcasting Service transmissions.
	DVD players and DVDs.
	Video gaming machines and games.
	Radios and British Forces Broadcasting Service transmissions.
	Combined Services Entertainment personality visits.
	Newspapers.
	Magazines.
	Books.
	Board games.
	Operational fitness equipment.
	In addition to this standard Operational Welfare Package provision, and recognising the need for extra deployable equipment capable of operation in the forward bases, the following facilities have been provided in Afghanistan:
	TEXTLINK e-mail that allows e-mail, SMS texting and letters to be transmitted between theatre and the UK.
	IRIDIUM hand-held satellite telephones that enable access to the 30 minutes of free welfare calls per week.
	Onward delivery and uplift of mail and electronic aerogrammes via the base location on routine resupply tasks.
	For other operational theatres the Operational Welfare Package has enabled the MOD to provide sustainable operational welfare to personnel on operational deployments and exercises that are of two months or more in duration and outside north west Europe. The exact composition of the Operational Welfare Package will depend on specific circumstances such as the nature and duration of the deployment; the operational situation in-theatre and the environment and infrastructure of the country in which the operation is taking place.

Afghanistan

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the countries of origin of those fighting for the Taliban killed by UK forces in Afghanistan; and what estimate he has made of how many have come from each country.

Adam Ingram: The majority of Taliban fighters killed by UK forces are of Afghan or Pakistani origin. We assess that small numbers of foreign fighters and stateless terrorists have been active in Afghanistan, and some of these will have been killed in fighting with ISAF forces. We are not able to judge how many have been killed in total, or indeed the break-down by nationality.

Afghanistan

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in what ways the security situation has  (a) improved and  (b) worsened since the recent deployment of British troops to Helmand province in Afghanistan.

Adam Ingram: Insurgent attacks against UK forces in Helmand increased in intensity following the establishment of regional outposts in the north of Helmand during the summer. However, the past two months have seen an improvement in the security situation in northern Helmand, which has resulted in a rebalancing of UK forces across the province, including the handover of Musa Qaleh to local elders. The situation in the south of the province remains broadly stable, if fragile in places.

Afghanistan

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has received in respect of the percentage of the Afghan  (a) population and  (b) economy dependent on the cultivation of poppies.

Des Browne: holding answer 30 October 2006
	The UN Office on Drugs and Crime conducts an annual Afghanistan opium survey. According to the 2006 survey, 2.9 million people (448,000 families) are involved in the opium cultivation which equates to 12.6 per cent. of the total population. The total farm gate value of opium crop as a proportion of GDP is approximately US$755 million (11 per cent.).

Afghanistan

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what study his Department has made of the lessons of past counter-insurgency campaigns relevant to the framing of NATO's strategy in Afghanistan.

Des Browne: holding answer 30 October 2006
	UK forces are able to draw on a number of doctrinal publications that deal with the lessons learnt from previous counter insurgency campaigns. These include "The Joint Warfare Production" (second edition), "The Military Contribution to Peace Support Operations" and "The Army Field Manual". In addition, the Ministry of Defence's Development, Concept and Doctrine Centre is reviewing doctrine better to reflect the current operational environment.

Afghanistan

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the proportion of Taliban fighters that are non-Afghan nationals.

Des Browne: The majority of Taliban fighters encountered in Afghanistan have been of Afghan or Pakistani origin. We assess that a small number of foreign fighters are also active in Afghanistan. It is not possible to provide a break-down by nationality.

Afghanistan

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of future requirements for troop numbers in Afghanistan.

Des Browne: We keep our force requirements under constant review and are responsive to requests from theatre in order to ensure our commanders on the ground have the tools that they need to achieve the mission as part of the NATO led International Security Assistance Force.

Aircraft Intercepts

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how often RAF fighters have been scrambled in the last 12 months to intercept civilian aircraft in UK airspace; on how many of those occasions the intercept has taken place before the civilian aircraft reached major built up areas; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 9 October 2006
	RAF fighters have launched six times in the past 12 months as a precautionary measure in case they were required to intercept civilian aircraft in UK airspace. On four of those occasions the issue was safely resolved before intercept. On the other two occasions the civilian aircraft were safely intercepted and escorted to a suitable destination. I am withholding further information as details of the specific scenarios in which RAF aircraft are launched would, or would be likely to prejudice the defence of the United Kingdom.

Animal Experiments

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last reviewed the need for the use of animals in experiments relating to naval personnel.

Adam Ingram: The research programme that advises on safe procedures and treatments for submariners escaping from a disabled submarine, undertaken by QinetiQ at Alverstoke under contract to the Ministry of Defence (MOD), was last reviewed in 2003 by the Defence Scientific Advisory Council (DSAC). This review confirmed the need for continued investigation into sequential improvements in escape and rescue procedures and the necessity of experiments on large animals. All scientific procedures involving the use of animals undertaken, sponsored or funded by the MOD are regulated by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and as such are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Armed Forces Pension Scheme

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was of extending survivors' benefits in the armed forces pension scheme to unmarried partners in each year since such provision was introduced.

Derek Twigg: The armed forces pension scheme 1975 (AFPS 75) extended survivors' benefits to unmarried partners in 2003 but only in cases where death was caused by service. The new pension schemes, armed forces pension scheme 2005 (AFPS 05) and the reserve forces pension scheme 2005 (RFPS), both feature pensions for eligible partners irrespective of the cause of death.
	The MOD makes a substantial contribution into the armed forces pension schemes each year for the approximately 200,000 current members. The current overall contribution equates to 24.8 per cent. of the armed forces pay bill. This contribution covers the differing benefits offered by each of the armed forces schemes run by the MOD. The necessary calculations could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces Pension Scheme

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated cost of the armed forces pension scheme will be in each year from 2001-02 to 2030-31.

Derek Twigg: The actual net resource costs (in accordance with accounting standards) of the armed forces pension scheme (AFPS) from financial year (FY) 2001-02 to 2005-06 are detailed as follows. Estimates for FY 2006-07 to 2009-10 based on statistical and actuarial evaluation are also shown. Figures for future, years could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The published accounts for the AFPS show the overall provision for future scheme liability.
	
		
			  Net resource costs 
			  Financial year  £ 
			  Actual costs  
			 2001-02 1,381,772 
			 2002-03 1,333,631 
			 2003-04 3,481,850 
			 2004-05 3,294,301 
			 2005-06 4,341,400 
			   
			  Estimated costs  
			 2006-07 4,588,662 
			 2007-08 4,756,731 
			 2008-09 4,928,911 
			 2009-10 5,105,349

Armoured Vehicles

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 9 October 2006,  Official Report, column 176W, on armoured vehicles, what information his Department received about the annual running costs of the RG31 as a result of the competition in 2001 for the Future Command and Liaison Vehicle; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: RG 31 is not in service with the UK armed forces. Indicative whole life costs were received from the contractor in 2001 (as part of the Assessment Phase for the Future Command and Liaison Vehicle). The vehicle was not however offered as part of the subsequent Demonstration, Manufacture and Support (DMS) tender, and the data was therefore not further refined.

Army Recruitment

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of those who applied to join the Army in 2005 were subsequently refused entry on medical grounds.

Derek Twigg: The number of medical rejections for those who applied to join the Army in financial year 2005-06 were as follows:
	
		
			   Applications  Medical rejection  Percentage 
			  Officers 1,910 140 7.3 
			  Soldiers 35,020 1,910 5.5 
		
	
	All figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. Statistics are only available by financial year not calendar year.
	Some of these medical rejections will be deferrals and candidates may well re-apply at a future date.

Army Recruitment

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) production and  (b) logistics costs of the 2006 Forward as One Army recruitment commercials were; and where and when they were filmed.

Derek Twigg: The 2006 Forward as One Army recruitment commercials were filmed in Chile during November 2005 and formed part of the infantry multi- media recruiting campaign that ran from January to March 2006. Total cost for the 2006 Forward as One Army commercials was £1.24 million, excluding VAT, of which £1.195 million was production and £45,000 logistics costs.

Ceremonial Duties/Parades

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his assessment is of the impact of the current tempo of operations on royal and ceremonial duties and parades.

Derek Twigg: There has been no impact on any royal and ceremonial duties and parades throughout the United Kingdom. The majority of royal and ceremonial duties and parades are the responsibility of London District, which is appropriately resourced for the task, despite the operational tempo.

Chaplains

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many chaplains of each denomination are serving in each of the armed forces; and how many there were in  (a) 1997 and  (b) 2002.

Des Browne: The number of trained chaplains in the UK regular forces broken down by Service and denomination is shown in the following table. It is not possible to show chaplains in the Naval Service broken down by denomination at April 1997 and April 2002 as historical data are not held centrally. In addition to the Christian chaplains shown in the table, chaplains from the four main non-Christian faiths were appointed in October 2005, one each from the Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim and Sikh faiths. These chaplains are MOD civil servants rather than Service personnel. There is also an honorary officiating chaplain to minister to those of the Jewish faith.
	
		
			   1 April 1997  1 April 2002  1 April 2006( 1)  1 September 2006( 1, 2) 
			 Naval Service(3) 70 70 65 70 
			 Baptist n/a n/a (4)— (4)— 
			 Church of England n/a n/a 35 35 
			 Church of Scotland n/a n/a 10 10 
			 Free Church of Scotland n/a n/a (4)— (4)— 
			 Methodist n/a n/a (4)— (4)— 
			 Roman Catholic n/a n/a 10 10 
			 Army 150 150 145 145 
			 Baptist (4)— 5 5 5 
			 Church of England 80 75 70 70 
			 Church of Ireland 10 10 10 10 
			 Church of Scotland 15 15 15 15 
			 Church of Wales (4)— 5 (4)— (4)— 
			 Episcopalian—Scottish (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— 
			 Free Church of Scotland 0 0 (4)— (4)— 
			 Methodist 10 10 10 10 
			 Presbyterian—Ireland (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— 
			 Presbyterian—Scotland (4)— (4)— 0 0 
			 Roman Catholic 20 25 25 20 
			 Unified Reformed Church (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— 
			 Royal Air Force(3) 80 75 75 (5)70 
			 Baptist (4)— (4)— (4,5)— n/a 
			 Church of England 55 50 (5)45 n/a 
			 Church of Ireland 0 (4)— (4,5)— n/a 
			 Church of Scotland 5 5 (5)5 n/a 
			 Free Church of Scotland (4)— 0 (5)0 n/a 
			 Methodist (4)— 5 (5)5 n/a 
			 Presbyterian (4)— (4)— (4,5)— n/a 
			 Roman Catholic 10 10 (5)10 n/a 
			 Unified Reformed Church (4)— 0 (5)0 n/a 
			 n/a = not available (1) Naval Service totals for April 2006 and September 2006 include five Christian Chaplains of unknown denomination. Army totals for April 2006 and September 2006 include fewer than five Christian Chaplains of unknown denomination. (2) Due to the introduction of a new personnel administration system, a breakdown of RAF Chaplains by denomination is not available at September 2006, and the breakdown of RAF Chaplains by denomination at April 2006 is provisional. The total figure for RAF Chaplains at September 2006 is provisional pending review. (3) Naval Service includes Royal Navy and Royal Marines. (4 )denotes fewer than five. All other figures have been rounded to the nearest five. (5) denotes provisional  Note: UK Regular Forces includes Nursing services and excludes Full Time Reserve Service personnel, Ghurkhas, the Home Service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment and mobilised reservists.

Departmental Child Care Facilities

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what child care  (a) provision and  (b) assistance is available to his Department's staff.

Derek Twigg: The Ministry of Defence provides the following child care support for its civilian and military employees:
	46 work place nurseries offering circa 1,750 full day care places for children aged three months to five years.
	36 crèches (benefiting 700 children) providing occasional care and 70 pre schools (benefiting over 2,000 children) providing education on a sessional basis, primarily for service families.
	14 wrap-around care schemes for 5-12 year olds (benefiting 350 children) providing after school care to match the working day.
	15 holiday play schemes providing full day care for 5 to 12-year-olds during school holidays (three are shared with other Government Departments) benefiting 550 children.
	Four salary plus child care voucher schemes for civilian employees: Army Pay Centre Glasgow, Defence Science Technology Laboratory (DSTL) staff, Warship Support Agency Rosyth and Defence Bills Agency Liverpool. The schemes benefit circa 240 parents.
	MOD nurseries are usually run by contractors, as commercial enterprises, who offer competitive rates. About 10 per cent. of the nurseries offer direct subsidies, which can reduce the fees by around a third. Some play schemes also receive direct subsidies.
	MOD's four voucher schemes provide employees with circa £30,000 of support per month, ranging from a flat rate £50 for after school care and £75 for pre school care per month to around a third of actual costs on a sliding scale for the registered care of their choice. These schemes offer the advantage of supporting parents to make their own choices about where and what type of child care support they want for their child.

Departmental Contracts

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to ensure that trainees are employed on its construction contracts.

Derek Twigg: Defence Estates—the Ministry of Defence (MOD) agency responsible for the defence estate—discusses with our suppliers, both individually and through our Prime Contracting Supplier Association, ways in which the number of apprenticeships and amount of skills training can be maximised. Our lead suppliers for the Single Living Accommodation Modernisation Project and Project MOD Estate London will together provide a minimum of 120 apprenticeships.

Exertional Heat Illness

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what procedures are in place to conduct inquiries following a non-fatal incident of exertional heat illness; and what the standard procedure is for the follow-up examination of soldiers surviving such an incident.

Derek Twigg: Medical investigations following a non-fatal incident of exertional heat illness (EHI) are carried out at the time of injury and then at the Institute for Naval Medicine (INM) after referral for treatment. In the instance of multiple casualties or fatalities, a board of inquiry (BOI) will be convened to investigate.
	Heat illness casualties are reported, via the chain of command, to the single service medical directorates. In high risk environments, formal reporting systems for heat illness are introduced.
	All personnel who have had a significant episode of EHI, more than one episode of EHI or required urgent admission to hospital with EHI are subsequently referred to the heat illness clinic at the INM for further investigation. Thereafter, personnel may return to their unit, sometimes with employability restrictions depending on the severity of their condition since after one episode of EHI there is an increased risk of further episodes for a variable period of time.

Far East Internees Ex Gratia Scheme

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the working group set up to examine the new criteria for the Far East Internees Ex Gratia Scheme will report.

Derek Twigg: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 26 June 2006,  Official Report, column 9.

HMS Coventry/HMS London

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department is investigating the sale of HMS Coventry and HMS London; what the assessed value of these vessels was prior to sale; who conducted the evaluation; what the sale price was in each case; and what the in-service life was in each case.

Adam Ingram: The Serious Fraud Office and Ministry of Defence police are currently investigating the sale of HMS Coventry and HMS London.
	The ships were sold in 2003 for a combined price of £116 million, and required major regeneration and modernisation work as they had been out of service for some time.
	As Romania was the sole identified potential purchaser, the only alternative to sale would have been to sell these ships for dismantling. Accordingly, they were valued by the MOD Disposal Services Agency at the scrap value of £100,000 each, based on the prevalent market conditions for scrap vessels at the time.
	HMS London was in service for approximately 14 years, HMS Coventry for approximately 13 years.

Iraq

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers serving in Iraq are from  (a) the North East,  (b) Tees Valley and  (c) the area corresponding most closely to Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency.

Adam Ingram: Data on the residential location of armed forces personnel are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Iraq

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Iraqi police officers have been removed from their position as a consequence of Operation Sinbad; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The removal of Iraqi police officers is a matter for the Government of Iraq.

Marine David Ward

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the recommendations of the coroner were following the inquest into the death of Marine David Ward on HMS Albion; and what his response was to each recommendation.

Derek Twigg: In order to provide a substantive answer to the question it is necessary for officials to recall the documentation from archives in order to review and examine the relevant details associated with the recommendations. This will take approximately five working days after which time I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Mental Health

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) service personnel and  (b) veterans were treated by the Duchess of Kent Psychiatric Hospital in the last five years it was used; how many treatment days were provided; what the cost was, broken down by type of treatment; and which treatments were transferred to the Priory Group.

Derek Twigg: All in-patient mental health services (i.e. the full range of pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatments including for alcohol and drug dependency) were transferred to the Priory Group with effect from 1 April 2004.
	Costs in the final year of operation of the Duchess of Kent Psychiatric Hospital (2003-04) were some £10 million. The Department no longer holds centrally figures on the number of treatment days provided there or the costs in each of its last five years.

Middle East

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 2 October 2006,  Official Report, column 2572W, to the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew), on the Middle East, what the UK role is in leading an interim cell in Lebanon to coordinate support to the Lebanese armed forces and security sector reform; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 26 October 2006
	A UK team visited Paris, Rome, Brussels, Beirut, Washington and New York to determine how best to take security sector reform (SSR) in Lebanon forward, and to identify a framework for international support. In the short term, the British embassy in Beirut is providing a co-ordination role for offers of assistance to the Government of Lebanon, in conjunction with other embassies. We are currently working with the EU and wider international community to establish the right approach for longer term SSR in Lebanon.

Military Deployments

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of  (a) Royal Navy and Royal Marines,  (b) Army and  (c) Royal Air Force trained strength was deployed on operations and other military tasks in the first two quarters of 2006-07.

Adam Ingram: Figures for quarter one are available in the MOD Public Service Agreement Performance Report Quarter One 2006-07. Copies of this are available on the Ministry of Defence website at:
	http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/CorporatePublications/FinancialReports/ModPublicServiceAgreementQuarterl200607.htm
	Figures for quarter two are due to be published in December 2006.

Missile Defence

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with the US Government on the provision of a ballistic missile defence system site in the UK.

Des Browne: It is not the practice of the Government to make public details of discussions with foreign Governments as this would, or would be likely to prejudice international relations.

Psychological Operations Units

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what agreement exists between the Defence departments of the UK Government and the US Administration to allow American personnel who are occupying and controlling British bases to employ psychological operations units against British subjects  (a) inside and  (b) outside such bases.

Des Browne: The US visiting force does not deploy psychological operations units at bases made available to them in the United Kingdom. There is therefore no need for any such agreement between the Ministry of Defence and the US Department of Defense relating to psychological operations.

Resettlement Provision

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his forecast is of the outflow entitled to  (a) partial and  (b) full tri-service resettlement provision in each service for each year from 2006-07 to 2010-11, broken down by rank.

Derek Twigg: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Territorial Army

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what plans he has for the Chorley Territorial Army Centre, Lancaster House; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what plans he has for the role of the Chorley Detachment of 5 General Support Medical Regiment; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  when the kitchens are expected to be re-instated at Chorley Territorial Army Centre, Lancaster House;
	(4)  what the reasons are for the transfer of Chorley Detachment of 5 General Support Medical Regiment from detachment to a squadron status; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 26 October 2006
	Under TA rebalancing, the Chorley Detachment (re-designated as 64 (Chorley) Medical Squadron) will provide an element of 5 General Support Medical Regiment's contingent component, supporting its regular counterparts in the event of large scale deliberate interventions. In addition it will provide individuals, on a voluntary basis, to backfill posts in 5 General Support Medical Regiment and other army medical units as required.
	To enable the contingent component element to be met Chorley Detachment was required to increase its manpower liability and is now designated as a Squadron. The Chorley Detachment was also considered suitable for uplift to a squadron as, historically, Chorley has a long established tradition of Territorial Army service and additionally the close location of its parent regiment offers potential benefits.
	We intend to retain Lancaster House and discussions are currently underway to establish the improvements required to meet future accommodation requirements including any necessary upgrade to the kitchen facilities.

Trained Strength Outflow

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his forecast is of the outflow from trained strength in each service of the armed forces for each year from 2006-07 to 2010-11, broken down by rank.

Derek Twigg: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Trident

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of service manpower is required for the daily operation of Trident.

Des Browne: The daily operation of Trident is carried out by the crews of the four boats assigned to the SSBN flotilla. They comprise about 0.5 per cent. of Service manpower.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Hospitality and Gifts

Tim Loughton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what gifts or hospitality he has received or given in relation to his ministerial duties in the last 24 months.

John Prescott: The Government's annual list detailing ministerial gifts was published on Monday 24 July 2006. Copies are available in the Library for the reference of Members.
	As is the case for all other Ministers, details of any gifts I receive this year valued at more than £140 will be included in the list which will be published as soon as possible at the end of the financial year.
	These processes were introduced by this government; they did not exist under the previous Administration.
	Where relevant, hospitality received is recorded in the Register of Members' interests.

Older Home Owners

Jim Cousins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with his Cabinet colleagues about the problems facing older low-income owner-occupiers.

John Prescott: The Government have made unprecedented investment in increasing financial support to low income pensioners. In addition to lifting many pensioners out of absolute poverty since 1997, over £400 million each year is made available to local authorities to help poorer home owners to maintain their homes while the Warm Front programme is investing £800 million by 2008 in grants for private housing, mostly to low-income older people.

Korea

Nigel Evans: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with South Korean politicians regarding that country's relationship with North Korea.

John Prescott: I met with the South Korean Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and the Foreign and Trade Minister, who is Secretary General designate of the United Nations. These meetings covered bilateral, regional and international issues which, of course, included discussion of the relationship with North Korea. The hon. Member may also be aware that I had an opportunity to lay a wreath in honour of UK soldiers who died during the Korean war both at the War memorial of Korea, as well as at the site of a significant battle involving British soldiers in Gloster valley.

UK Security

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what meetings he has attended relating to the security of the UK in the last six months.

John Prescott: I have discussions about a range of issues with my Cabinet colleagues.

Kyoto Protocol

Simon Hughes: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress there has been on implementing the Kyoto protocol.

John Prescott: The UK is on course to meet and go beyond its Kyoto target of reducing emissions of greenhouse gases by 12.5 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2008-12. The 2006 UK Climate Change Programme contains a package of measures and commitments that will help reduce the UK's emissions of greenhouse gases to about 23.6 per cent. below base year levels.

Post Office

Danny Alexander: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on the future of the post office network since May 2006; and if he will make a statement.

John Prescott: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave today to the hon. Member for Wellingborough (Mr. Bone), at column 280.

Freedom of Information

Oliver Heald: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many Freedom of Information Act requests his Office has received since the recent machinery of government changes; how many (a) are in train, (b) are concluded and (c) were answered within 20 working days.

John Prescott: I refer the hon. Member to the freedom of information statistics published on a quarterly basis by the Department for Constitutional Affairs. These are available in the Library for the reference of Members.
	Hilary Armstrong: Nowhere is personalisation of public services more important than in addressing the needs of the most socially excluded. The Government are stepping up efforts to personalise services for the most excluded in the form of individual budgets, budget-holding lead professionals, and health-led parenting support projects. These initiatives will provide more tailored support, empower the service user, and better enable coordination of services. Civil Service12. David Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when she last reviewed the code of conduct on propriety and ethics for the civil service. [98421]Mr. McFadden: A new civil service code was issued on 6 June 2006. It is the result of a review undertaken by the Cabinet Office and the Civil Service Commissioners and took account of comments made in an extensive consultation exercise. Copies of the new code, which sets out the core values of the civil service—integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality—are available in the Library for the reference of Members.Social Exclusion UnitTim Loughton: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to her answer of 9 October 2006, Official Report, column 99W, on the Social Exclusion Unit, where within Government the 47 staff in the former Social Exclusion Unit have been re-deployed; and if she will make a statement. [96679]Mr. Woolas: I have been asked to reply. 14 members of staff from the former Social Exclusion Unit have transferred permanently to the Social Exclusion Task Force in the Cabinet Office. 28 staff were redeployed within the Department for Communities and Local Government. Five have moved elsewhere.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Accident Reporting

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will introduce a vocational training accident reporting procedure as part of  (a) the teacher training curriculum,  (b) classroom teaching and  (c) placement officer training.

Jim Knight: Schools and colleges are responsible for arranging placements and introducing students to general health and safety issues at work. They also have a general duty of care towards students on placements, and organisers of work experience placements have particular responsibilities under health and safety legislation to place students in a healthy and safe environment. The provisions of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR) apply to students on work experience. Where an accident occurs on the premises of a work experience provider, the responsibility for reporting it and informing the school lies with the provider.
	For school teachers, the qualified teacher status standards already require all newly qualified teachers to manage teaching and learning safely and effectively. In further education it would be expected that as part of their training and education in their own specialism, teachers will have health and safety awareness and knowledge of appropriate procedures specific to their area of vocational expertise. In both sectors they must also be aware of, and work within the statutory frameworks relating to teachers' responsibilities, and these frameworks include those relating to safety.
	There are no current plans to introduce specific mandatory training on vocational training accident reporting procedures as part of core ITT qualifications in either the schools or further education sectors.

Age Discrimination

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if his Department will  (a) carry out an age audit of its staff to establish an age profile of its workforce,  (b) negotiate an age management policy with trade unions and employees to eliminate age discrimination and retain older workers,  (c) identify and support training needs and offer older staff flexible working to downshift towards retirement and  (d) extend to over-fifties the right to request to work flexibly and the right to training with paid time off; and if he will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department believes that everyone should have an equal opportunity to meet their aspirations, realise their full potential and improve their life chances. To that end, we regularly equality monitor our HR policies and processes, and have a clear understanding of the impact of those polices/ processes on different age groups within the Department, this includes access to development. We also take action if the monitoring shows any adverse impact on groups of staff.
	When detailed guidance was produced by ACAS on implementing the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 a project team was set up to consider and review the implications of the regulations on our existing HR policies and procedures. This found that most of our policies and procedures were age compliant. The exception was our age retirement arrangements, and we have now negotiated an agreement with our trade union side so that from the 1 October 2006 here is no mandatory retirement age and people can choose when they retire provided they continue to meet the normal fitness and effectiveness standards that apply to all staff.
	My Department, through its Equality and Diversity Deliver/Plan, is committed to supporting a range of flexible working patterns, including part-time working, job sharing and home-working. Any member of staff can negotiate a change in working pattern in addition to standard flexitime arrangements. In addition, people at age 60 can apply to take their pension and continue in employment either by reducing their hours of work or by downgrading without any financial detriment.
	Finally, all members of staff are encouraged to develop the blend of skills and experience that will enable them to be effective in their current post and to progress, if that is what they want to do. In April 2006 we launched an initiative under the Professional Skills for Government framework so that everyone in the Department can identify and develop the blend of skills and experience they need to be able to design and deliver customer-focused policies for the 21st century.

Citizenship

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what new measures are proposed in response to the Ofsted report into the teaching of citizenship;
	(2)  if he will issue a progress report on the implementation of the recommendations of Ofsted with respect to the teaching of citizenship.

Jim Knight: Many of the recommendations in the Ofsted report "Towards Consensus? Citizenship in secondary schools" are for schools and colleges. The DfES is considering how we can best support schools to implement these recommendations. The report recommends that the number of initial teacher training (ITT) places for citizenship is increased. We currently make available 200 ITT places per year and this compares favourably with other national curriculum subjects. In addition to this, the DfES is funding 1,200 continuing professional development places over the next two years. Ofsted will monitor progress in following up their recommendations in subsequent Ofsted reports on citizenship.

Departmental Redundancies

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many redundancies there were in his Department in each year since 1997; what the cost of such redundancies was in each year; how many temporary staff were employed in each year; and how many staff were seconded by outside organisations to posts within the Department in each year.

Parmjit Dhanda: The information is not available in exactly the same way as sought. There have been no redundancies in my Department since 1997 and we remain committed to minimising recourse to compulsory redundancies. Nonetheless, there have been voluntary early releases. From the 1997-98 financial year to the end of the 2005-06 financial year, the total number of such releases and the total cost to my Department, arising from the provisions of the Civil Service Compensation scheme, were as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
			  Financial year  Number of releases  Total cost to DfES 
			 1997-98 101 5.15 
			 1998-99 51 2.73 
			 1999-00 50 4.237 
			 2000-01 61 4.06 
			 2001-02 84 6.142 
			 2002-03 57 5.57 
			 2003-04 28 2.54 
			 2004-05 332 17.1 
			 2005-06 204 15.1 
		
	
	Data relating to the number of temporary staff employed in my Department during 1997 is not available. From 1998 to date the data is as follows:
	
		
			  Calendar year  Temporary staff employed 
			 1997 (1)— 
			 1998 230 
			 1999 272 
			 2000 241 
			 2001 215 
			 2002 116 
			 2003 100 
			 2004 76 
			 2005 60 
			 2006 28 
			 (1) Information not available 
		
	
	Data relating to inward secondees to my Department prior to July 2003 is not available. From July 2003 data until the end of the financial year 2003-04 and subsequent financial years 2004-05, 2005-06 is as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  New inward loans from other Government Departments  New inward secondments from outside organisations  Total new inward loans and secondments 
			 2003-04 24 65 89 
			 2004-05 12 58 70 
			 2005-06 8 20 28

Education Funding

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what Government funding was available to the Havering local education authority in the 2005-06 fiscal year;
	(2)  what the level of funding per student at  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools in (i) Havering local education authority and (ii) England is in 2006-07.

Jim Knight: The total funding available to Havering education authority for 2005-06 is contained within the following table:
	
		
			  2005-06  Funding 
			 All pupils aged 3-19 (£ million) 160.2 
			 Funding per 3-19 pupil (£) 4,250 
			  Notes: 1. Figures reflect relevant sub-blocks of education formula spending (EFS) settlements and include the pensions transfer to EFS and the Learning and Skills Council.  2. Total funding also includes all revenue grants in DfES departmental expenditure limits relevant to pupils aged 3-19 and exclude education maintenance allowances (EMAs) and grants not allocated at LEA level.  3. The pupil numbers used to convert £ million figures to £ per pupil are those underlying the EFS settlement calculations.  4. Some of the grant allocations have not been finalised. If these do change, the effect on the funding figures is expected to be minimal.  5. Both figures are in cash terms, including the pensions transfer. 
		
	
	With the introduction of Dedicated Schools Grant in 2006-07, there is no longer a separate funding spilt between primary and secondary schools but the following table gives a breakdown of the available data. The guaranteed unit of funding does not include an amount for specific grants as shown in the table above:
	
		
			  2006-07  Guaranteed unit of funding (£) 
			 Havering 3,718.84 
			 England 3,642.99

Education Funding

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what grant schemes are available in all education authority areas for primary schools; and which schools have taken advantage of those schemes;
	(2)  what grant schemes are available to  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools in the Havering local education authority area; and which schools have taken advantage of such schemes.

Jim Knight: The following table shows the recurrent grants available to local authorities for schools in 2006-07 across both the primary and secondary sectors. The grants in the table are those made available to schools over and above their delegated school budgets. The amounts available for primary schools and for secondary schools are shown for those grants where this information is held centrally. School standards grants, school development grant and the devolved school meals grant are allocated to all maintained schools. The distribution of the other grants to schools is determined locally after discussion with the local schools forum.
	Local authorities and their schools have also been allocated £12.3 billion for capital investment in schools across the current financial year and the next. Havering and its schools have been allocated funding of £23.7 million for capital investment in schools across the current financial year and the next. This is available for investment in
	buildings and information technology facilities in primary and secondary schools. It is the responsibility of local authorities and their schools to determine how they allocate these funds to different projects across the primary and secondary estate, taking account of local needs and priorities. Local authorities may supplement this if they are able to secure funding from other sources.
	
		
			  Recurrent grants available to schools 2006-07 
			  £ million 
			England  Havering 
			   Type of school eligible for the grant  Total allocation  Primary  Secondary  Total allocation  Primary  Secondary 
			 School Standards Grant Primary and Secondary 1,009 550 397 4.505 2.362 1.971 
			 School Standards Grant (Personalisation) Primary and Secondary 220 151 64 0.797 0.213 0.571 
			 School Development Grant Primary and Secondary 1,989 738 1,042 8.367 2.504 3.716 
			 Ethnic Minority Achievement (EMAG) Primary and Secondary 174 n/a n/a 0.205 n/a n/a 
			 English as an Additional Language Pilot Programme Primary and Secondary 1 n/a n/a 0 0 0 
			 Targeted Improvement Grant Primary and Secondary 5 n/a n/a 0 0 0 
			 Devolved School Meals Grant Primary and Secondary 30 n/a n/a 0.123 0.080 0.039 
			 Targeted School Meals Grant Primary and Secondary 50 n/a n/a 0.233 n/a n/a 
			 Extended Schools Primary and Secondary 67 n/a n/a 0.369 n/a n/a 
			 Targeted Support for Primary Strategy Primary 137 137 0 0.478 0.478 n/a 
			 Targeted Support for Secondary Strategy Secondary 105 0 105 0.314 0.000 0.314 
			 Aimhigher Secondary 30 0 30 0 0 0 
			 Fresh Start and New Partnerships (Recurrent and Capital) Primary and Secondary 6 n/a n/a 0 0 0 
			 Music at Key Stage 2 Primary 3 3 0 0.014 0.014 0.000 
			 London Challenge Primary and Secondary 16 n/a n/a 0.405 n/a n/a 
			  Note:  The primary and secondary figures may not add up to the total allocation, as special schools and pupil referral units will also receive grant, and some grant may be retained centrally by the local authority.

English Language

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of secondary school pupils in  (a) Peterborough constituency,  (b) Peterborough city council area and  (c) England have English as a second language.

Jim Knight: The requested information is given in the table.
	
		
			  Maintained secondary schools ( 1) : number and percentage of pupils whose first language is known or believed to be other than English ( 2 ) as at January 2006 by Peterborough parliamentary constituency, Peterborough local authority area and England 
			Pupils of compulsory school age and above 
			   Number of pupils ( 2)  Number of pupils whose first language is known or believed to be other than English  Percentage of pupils whose first language is known or believed to be other than English ( 3) 
			 England (4) 3,306,570 314,950 9.5 
			 Peterborough local authority area 13,178 2,050 15.6 
			 Peterborough parliamentary constituency 8,214 1,824 22.2 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Excludes dually registered pupils. (3) The number of pupils whose first language is known or believed to be other than English expressed as a percentage of the total number of pupils of compulsory school age and above. (4) Figures for England have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source:  Schools' Census

Faith Schools

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what consultations he has held with faith school  (a) head teachers and  (b) chairs of governors on the practicability of his proposed changes to admission arrangements for faith schools; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: holding answer 30 October 2006
	We are not proposing any changes to the admission arrangements for new or existing faith schools to require them to open a proportion of their places to children of no or other faiths.

Foreign Language Teaching

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he is taking to promote foreign language teaching in  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: To promote the study of foreign languages for learners of all ages, the Government published its National Languages Strategy: 'Languages for All: Languages for Life—a strategy for England' in December 2002. To oversee the implementation of the strategy, the Secretary of State for Education and Skills appointed Dr. Lid King as National Director for Languages in September 2003.
	In March 2005, the Secretary of State announced a £115 million "Boost for Modern Foreign Languages", providing support for language teaching and learning until March 2008.
	For primary schools the funding will provide continuing support for initial and existing teacher training as well as training for support staff. To date we have trained over 2,000 new primary teachers with a specialism in languages. Last October we published, in hard copy and online, our Key Stage 2 Framework for Languages, which sets out learning objectives for the four years of Key Stage 2. It is supported by a national training programme, guidance and a planning tool.
	The funding will also support new approaches for teaching and learning for 11 to 18-year-olds, including alternative qualifications and vocational options at Key Stage 4 which will provide more flexibility for pupils in their studies. We are also funding a range of projects and materials to promote languages and to develop innovative curricular models which will be show-cased to provide schools with delivery ideas and support. For example, we funded CILT, the National Centre for Languages to produce 'Languages Work', a suite of materials designed to promote the value of language learning, support take up of languages beyond Key Stage 3, and how language skills can enhance future employability.
	Our Key Stage 3 Strategy continues to impact positively on pupils' attainment in languages, especially boys. From January 2007 we will be providing additional Key Stage 3 training for teachers.
	We have expanded the list of qualifications that count towards performance table scores to include more language qualifications. Most significantly, in September 2005 the new national, voluntary languages recognition scheme, the Languages Ladder, became available nationally. The scheme can be used by learners of all ages and is currently available in 21 languages. It differs from existing approaches to assessment in that there are separate qualifications in each language for reading, writing, listening and speaking. To date over 800 centres—including local authorities and specialist language colleges—have registered to take part in the scheme, with over 10,000 learners entered for qualifications across all sectors taking over 26,000 qualifications.
	To address the decline in take up at Key Stage 4, my predecessor wrote to all secondary schools setting out her expectations that, from September 2006, 50 to 90 per cent. of a school's Key Stage 4 cohort should study a foreign language leading to a recognised qualification.
	The hon. Gentleman will also be aware that my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education and Skills has asked Lord Dearing to carry out a review of languages. Working with key partners and stakeholders, the review will examine the scope for action in the following areas: with secondary schools to support them in making available a wider range of more flexible language courses, so that more young people continue language learning even if they are not doing a full GCSE course; further strengthening the incentives for schools and young people to continue language learning post-14; with Further Education and Higher Education institutions, to examine what more can be done to widen access to and increase interest in language learning among the student population; with employer organisations, to consider what more they can do to promote the value of language skills for business and to give stronger market signals to young people about language skills and employability; and finally, what broader communication effort is needed to get across the importance of language skills to all sections of the population.
	Lord Dearing is expected to submit his interim report to the Secretary of State in December, and his final report by the end of February 2007.

Foreign Language Teaching

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether there is a minimum percentage of students that a school is required to have taking up a foreign language at age 14 years.

Jim Knight: At Key Stage 3, language learning for all 14-year-olds is compulsory.
	At Key Stage 4 (14 to 16-year-olds), where compulsion was replaced by a statutory entitlement in September 2004, schools must provide access to language learning to any pupil who wishes to study a language. From September 2006 we expect, as a minimum, 50 per cent. of a school's Key Stage 4 cohort of pupils to be studying a language leading to a recognised qualification.

GCSEs

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils gained A* to C GCSEs in  (a) French and  (b) German in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The following table shows the number of 15(1)-year-old pupils gaining an A*-C grade in GCSE French and German in each year since 1997.
	
		
			   French  German 
			 (1) Aged 15 at the start of the academic year, i.e. 31 August.(2) Data for 2006 are provisional. Data for all other years are final. Note:Figures are rounded to the nearest 100. 
			 1997 149,500 68,900 
			 1998 149,100 69,400 
			 1999 158,000 71,900 
			 2000 158,500 69,800 
			 2001 165,300 73,200 
			 2002 161,100 70,800 
			 2003 150,200 65,300 
			 2004 150,200 68,000 
			 2005 143,200 65,100 
			 2006(2) 133,000 57,800

GCSEs

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills in how many secondary schools no pupils took a GCSE in a modern language in the 2005-06 academic year.

Jim Knight: The Department will be able to answer this question when the 2006 Secondary School Achievement and Attainment Tables are published in January 2007.

GCSEs

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of children left school with no GCSE qualifications in each year since the introduction of the examination.

Jim Knight: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Proportion of pupils not gaining at least one A*-G( 1)  at GCSE and equivalent( 2) 
			   Percentage 
			 1988(3) 10.1 
			 1989 7.5 
			 1990 7.3 
			 1991 6.8 
			 1992 8.4 
			 1993 7.0 
			 1994 7.7 
			 1995 8.1 
			 1996 7.8 
			 1997 7.7 
			 1998 6.6 
			 1999 6.0 
			 2000 5.6 
			 2001 5.5 
			 2002 5.4 
			 2003 5.2 
			 2004 4.1 
			 2005 3.6 
			 2006(4) 3.4 
			 (1 )GCSE grade A* was introduced in 1994. (2 )Percentages from 1997 include GNVQ equivalencies. Percentages from 2004 include GCSEs and equivalents approved for use pre-16 (3 )Figures for 1988 are taken from the School Leavers Survey, and include school leavers of any age from all schools except special schools. (4 )The 2006 figure is provisional. All other figures are final.  Notes: 1. Figures for 1989 to 1991 are taken from the School Examinations Survey, and are based on 15 year old pupils in all schools except special schools. 2. Figures from 1992 onwards are taken from the School Achievement and Attainment Tables data, and are based on 15-year-old pupils in all schools including special schools.

Graduate Teacher Training Programme

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers on the Graduate Teacher Training Programme have been placed in fee paying schools; and how many of those schools have received funding towards the cost of the (a) training and  (b) trainee's salary in the past three years.

Jim Knight: holding answer 30 October 2006
	The number of trainees on the Graduate Teacher Training Programme (GTP) employed by independent schools for the academic years, 2002/03, 2003/04 and 2004/05 is 144, 205 and 178 people respectively. Those who withdrew from the programme prior to the completion date have been excluded from the figures.
	Independent schools may receive a small amount of the training grant from their training provider. This is controlled locally and information on the exact amount given to fee paying schools is not held centrally.
	The salary of GTP trainees who are employed by independent schools is borne by the school.

Information Sharing

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether  (a) local authority staff,  (b) career advisers and  (c) voluntary workers who provide services to local authorities will have access to the information sharing index.

Beverley Hughes: We are currently consulting on draft regulations that will bring the information sharing index into operation. Among other issues, the regulations will specify the types of practitioners whose role would make it appropriate for them to have access to the index. The consultation specifically seeks views on whether practitioners, other than those specified in the regulations, should be given access to the index. The consultation closes on 14 December 2006.
	The draft regulations propose that from local authorities, local authority index management teams; Connexions advisors; social workers; educational welfare officers; head teachers; deputy head teachers; school administrators; heads of year or teachers with pastoral or child protection responsibilities; teachers of children with special educational needs and special educational needs co-ordinators, or their equivalents, and members of staff employed by voluntary and community sector organisations will be granted access.
	The regulations also propose that all practitioners with access will have undergone an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau check, and to have undergone relevant training in the appropriate use of the index.
	The index will be an important tool to help improve the communication between the key practitioners needed for the effective delivery of services for children and families and, when necessary, to protect children.

International GCSE

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  if he will include results of the international GCSE in achievement and attainment tables for secondary schools at GCSE and equivalent;
	(2)  whether pupils who achieve an international GCSE in English in accordance with the Coventry City Council and the North West Federation of Schools (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) Order 2005 (S.I., 2005, No. 1739) will be included in achievement and attainment tables as if they had passed a GCSE in English.

Jim Knight: The achievement and attainment tables can only report the results of qualifications which are approved by the Secretary of State for use in the maintained sector. Because the iGCSE is not an approved qualification it cannot be counted in the tables. The iGCSE has not been aligned with the national curriculum. We are, however, about to launch a consultation on the future use of the iGCSE in the maintained sector. That consultation will also consider whether any changes should be made to the tables coverage in future years.

Literacy

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his Department's policy is on improving reading capabilities in  (a) school-age children and  (b) adults.

Jim Knight: The ability to read well underpins all educational achievement and improves children's life chances. The Department is committed to improving children's reading capabilities. We provide a range of materials to support teachers, school librarians and others to ensure schools provide both high quality teaching and learning in reading, and promote an environment which encourages children's enthusiasm for reading and helps them achieve their potential.
	As part of our drive to improve attainment for all children the Primary National Strategy has renewed its literacy framework. The framework was made available earlier this month and offers enhanced support to schools and early years settings, drawing on the latest classroom good practice and research.
	The literacy element of the framework draws in particular on the findings of the Rose Review which looked at a wide range of best practice in the teaching of early reading and found that systematic phonic work, set within a rich language curriculum, is the best route to becoming a skilled reader for the majority of children. The Primary National Strategy has worked closely with local authorities to put in place a package of materials, training and consultancy that will support schools in using the new framework.
	More widely, our National Reading Campaign promotes the benefits and pleasures of reading to all ages. Key elements include the Reading Connects initiative which supports schools in promoting reading for pleasure to enhance achievement; and Reading Champions which finds and celebrates positive male role models and seeks to change boys' and men's attitudes to reading.
	The Skills for Life Strategy is committed to improving levels of literacy within the adult population. Programmes are available free-of-charge to adults aged 16 and above who wish to improve their literacy and numeracy skills in workplace and community settings. The Government plan to help 2.25 million adults to achieve literacy, language and numeracy qualifications by 2010. Family Literacy Language and Numeracy programmes are a key element of Skills for Life. They enable parents and their children to improve their literacy, language and numeracy skills together. Courses are offered through schools, children's centres, colleges and adult learning services. Parents have an essential role to play in education and their involvement and support for their child's learning is critical. Our Family Reading Campaign will work to ensure all families see reading as an important part of their daily lives and part of the culture of their home. The Family Reading Campaign will be launched at the beginning of next year.

Ofsted

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much Ofsted has cost to run in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply has been placed in the House Library.
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 30 October 2006:
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for reply.
	You asked how much Ofsted has cost to run in each of the last five years.
	In response, the figures are as follows:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2002-03 201 
			 2003-04 207 
			 2004-05 214 
			 2005-05 221 
			 2006-07 204 
		
	
	A copy of this reply has been sent to Jim Knight MP and will be placed in the library of both Houses.

Pensions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent on the Teachers Pension Scheme in each year since 1980-81; what forecasts he has made of how much will be spent in each year between 2007-08 and 2050-51; and how many members of the scheme there are.

Parmjit Dhanda: The following table provides the available figures for gross expenditure against the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS) for financial years 1991-92 to 2005-06. Estimates for future years are included within the total figures for gross spending on unfunded pension schemes that were published in the December 2005 'Long-term Public Finance' report by HM Treasury. The TPS Accounts for 2005-06 cited 590,032 active members, 391,016 deferred members and 488,132 pensioner members.
	Expenditure against the TPS (all figures shown on cash basis)
	
		
			  £ billion 
			 1991-92 2.161 
			 1992-93 2.395 
			 1993-94 2.635 
			 1994-95 2.709 
			 1995-96 2.937 
			 1996-97 3,254 
			 1997-98 3.643 
			 1998-99 3.378 
			 1999-00 3.577 
			 2000-01 3.716 
			 2001-02 3.957 
			 2002-03 4.205 
			 2003-04 4.428 
			 2004-05 4.747 
			 2005-06 5.099

Pensions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what the current  (a) accrual rate and  (b) normal retirement age is for each public sector pension scheme for which his Department is responsible; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the  (a) present and  (b) future retirement age arrangements are for each public sector pension scheme for which his Department has responsibility; and if he will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: Under the provisions of the Teachers' Pension Scheme, existing members have a normal pension age of 60 and accrue pension benefits at a rate of (1)/80th and a lump sum at a rate of (3)/80ths of salary for each year of service. New entrants to the TPS from 1 January 2007 will have a normal pension age of 65 and will accrue pension at a rate of (1)/60th of salary for each year with the option to commute part of their pension benefits in return for a lump sum.

Pensions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the current estimate is of the unfunded liability, in present value terms, of each public sector pension scheme for which his Department is responsible; and on what assumptions for  (a) discount rate and  (b) longevity the estimate is based.

Bill Rammell: The total liabilities against the Teachers' Pension Scheme as at 31 March 2006, as published in the scheme accounts, was £143 billion, based on an assumed real discount rate of 2.8 per cent. In preparing their report for the scheme accounts, the Government Actuary assumed that the life expectancy at age 60 of members currently in service would be about 27&frac12; per cent. years for men and about 30&frac12; per cent. years for women.

Pensions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent estimate he has made of the  (a) rate and  (b) annual cost of employer contributions in each public sector pension scheme for which his Department has responsibility; and if he will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: The current employer contribution rate for the Teachers' Pension scheme (TPS) is 13.5 per cent. of salary, and the scheme expects to receive £2.79 billion in contributions from employers during the current financial year. Following the agreement with unions and employers on the reform of the TPS and taking account of the outcome of the 2004 valuation of the TPS, from 1st January 2007 the employer contribution rate will increase to 14.1 percent., and the employee rate will increase from 6 percent. to 6.4 percent. The reform of the TPS also includes a cap of 14 percent. on the employer contribution rate from the 2008 scheme valuation onwards.

Private Finance Initiative Projects

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much has been spent by his Department on Private Finance Initiative projects postponed pending further consideration or stopped in the last 12 months.

Jim Knight: The Department for Education and Skills does not itself undertake Private Finance Initiative (PFI) projects. PFI projects for the provision of schools are delivered through contracts between local authorities and private sector contractors.
	There are currently 103 such projects with signed contracts covering over 800 schools. A list containing the names, locations and other details of these projects can be accessed at www.teachernet.gov.uk/pfi and copies have been placed in the Commons Library.
	One schools PFI project has been postponed or stopped in the last 12 months but only in the sense of no longer being funded through PFI. The project itself (in the London borough of Hounslow) is proceeding using conventional capital. Because of a lack of competition in the bidding process it was agreed between the Department and the local authority that a value for money outcome was unlikely to be achieved through PFI in this particular case. This change in the funding method did not in itself involve any cost to the Department.

Reading Initiative

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what involvement his Department has had in developing the Every Child a Reader initiative; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  which public bodies are involved in the Every Child a Reader initiative;
	(3)  what the average cost per child was of using personalised reading recovery to bring the relevant children up to the national average literacy level in 2005-06.

Jim Knight: Every Child a Reader (ECAR) is a three-year project which aims to help 5,000 five-year-olds and six-year-olds learn to read by placing specialist literacy teachers, trained in 'Reading Recovery', into schools to provide intensive one-to-one support to children most in need. The project also aims to explore the potential for those teachers to support tailored literacy teaching more broadly within a school. The cost per child of participation in a Reading Recovery programme is between £2,000 and £2,500, depending on the salary scale point of the Reading Recovery teacher, and whether a London allowance is applicable.
	ECAR is an independent project initiated by the KPMG Foundation. The DfES agreed to match funding provided by the business sector and charitable trusts and has provided £4.55 million of the £10 million that the scheme requires. The Department works closely with ECAR in decisions about funding allocations and evaluation mechanisms. An evaluation report of the first year of the ECAR project will be published next week and a copy will be placed in both Houses.
	Reading Recovery is a literacy intervention programme run by the Institute of Education. In delivering ECAR, the Institute works with the KPMG Foundation, the Primary National Strategy and the DfES. Other bodies currently involved in ECAR are the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, the SHINE Trust, the Indigo Trust, JJ Charitable Trust, the Mercers' company and Man Group plc. Local authorities currently involved are Barking and Dagenham, Brent, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Islington, Lambeth, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Derbyshire, Devon, Kent, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester, Middlesbrough and Sheffield.

School Finance

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much his Department spent on schools in 1996-97; how much was allocated to schools for 2006-07; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: In 1996-97 central and local government expenditure on education, including capital was £18,604 million. In 2006-07 the Department planned to allocate £38,612 million to schools.
	 Notes:
	1. The cash figure for 1996-97 comes from the Statistical Bulletin "Education and Training Expenditure Since 1995-96", published in November 2005. The central element is the departmental expenditure limit. The recurrent local authority figure is drawn from Revenue outturn statements which LEAs submitted to what is now Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG).
	2. The 2006-07 figures are taken from the Departmental Annual Report 2006. Some of the underlying figures may have been revised since the DAR's publication. The 2006-07 figure is not directly comparable to the 1996-97 figure (but is the nearest equivalent) as the 2006-07 figure does not include any local authority funding in addition to the new dedicated schools grant which was introduced on 1 April 2006.
	3. The 2006-07 figure is the departmental expenditure limit for schools, it includes capital but excludes PFI.

School Finance

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which schools in Hendon have received capital funding from his Department since May 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Capital allocations from the Department are made on a local authority, not a constituency basis, and allocations to individual schools are prioritised by local authorities. Accordingly, the Department maintains central records of allocations to local authorities, on a financial year basis commencing 1 April. Allocations to the London borough of Barnet since 1 April 1997 are set out in the following table.
	
		
			  £ million 
			 1998-9 1.8 
			 1999-0 5.6 
			 2000-1 3.9 
			 2001-2 11.9 
			 2002-3 7.5 
			 2003-4 15.9 
			 2004-5 12.0 
			 2005-6 18.5 
			 2006-7 15.1 
		
	
	The large allocation of £41.5 million in 2006-07 includes an amount of £28.4 million for a one-school pathfinder school.

School Playing Fields

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate his Department has made of the change in the number of playing fields of an area of less than 0.4 hectares in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: holding answer 30 October 2006
	Prior to October 1998, there was no regulation of the sale of school playing fields at local authority controlled schools. If a local authority wanted to sell a school playing field there was nothing to stop it and it could spend the proceeds as it wished. Section 77 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 was introduced in October 1998 to stop the indiscriminate sale of school playing fields. Local authorities and governing bodies of all maintained schools now need the Secretary of State's consent before they can dispose of a playing field or any part of a playing field. Section 77 defines playing field as
	"land in the open air which is provided for the purposes of physical education or recreation".
	All applications to dispose of school playing fields received since 16 July 2001 have been scrutinised by the independent School Playing Fields Advisory Panel, which comprises representatives from the National Playing Fields Association, the Central Council of Physical Recreation, Learning through Landscapes, the National Association of Head Teachers and the Local Government Association. The Panel provides advice on the extent to which applications meet the published criteria.
	There has never been a complete audit of existing school playing field provision, but data on school playing fields was requested from local authorities in 2001 and 2003. Unfortunately, the data was incomplete and of variable quality, and it was not possible to accurately assess the number and area of school playing fields.
	The following table shows the number of applications to sell school playing fields larger than a 2,000m(2) sports pitch that have been approved in each calendar year since 1998. A 'sports pitch' is an area of open grassed land which is equal to, or larger than, the Football Association's recommended area of 2,000m(2) for games played by under-10s, and which has a configuration making it suitable for sports, whether laid out as a sports pitch or not. Of the total of 174 approved applications, 78 were at closed schools. Of the approved 96 applications at operating schools, the proceeds of sale have been used to improve on-site sports facilities at 78 of these schools. In the other 18 cases the sale proceeds have been used to improve educational facilities.
	
		
			   Number 
			 1998(1) 7 
			 1999 42 
			 2000 31 
			 2001 21 
			 2002 24 
			 2003 17 
			 2004 14 
			 2005 9 
			 2006(2) 9 
			 (1) October to December.  (2) To date.

School Science Laboratories

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to ringfence funding for school science laboratories.

Jim Knight: Decisions on allocating money for school science laboratories are made by local authorities, as they are best placed to decide upon priorities for capital funding. We have no plans to change this.
	The Department is encouraging authorities to think imaginatively about school science provision. Accordingly, it is initiating the 'Faraday' project which will result in a series of exemplar designs for science laboratories being developed and a range of demonstration projects being built across the country. These designs will be exciting and inspirational, and will comply with existing space, cost and environmental guidelines.
	Schools' capital funding, out of which school science laboratories can be funded, has never been higher. This year there is £5.9 billion of capital support, rising to over £8 billion by 2010-11. Much of this can be used to improve school laboratories. Building Schools for the Future will, in time, renew all secondary schools including their science provision. In the meantime, all schools have access to other funding including capital devolved to local authorities and to schools.
	Capital funding includes allocations each year to every school for its own priorities. This year, a 1,000 pupil secondary school will receive over £100,000 for its needs, which can include the improvement of its laboratories. This can be rolled over to support larger projects, and be added to from other sources.

Special Educational Needs

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on special needs education in North Yorkshire.

Parmjit Dhanda: Delivery of special needs education within North Yorkshire is a matter for determination by the local authority (LA). It is an essential function of every LA to make effective arrangements for special educational needs (SEN) by ensuring that the needs of pupils are identified and assessed quickly and matched by appropriate provision. Under section 315 of the Education Act 1996, LA arrangements for SEN must be kept under review.

Special Educational Needs

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children educated in the private sector in Somerset have been assessed for special educational needs funding in each of the last five years.

Parmjit Dhanda: Information is collected on the number of children who have been assessed for statements of special educational need (SEN); the number of children for whom a statement of SEN was made for the first time; and the placement of these children. The available information is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Assessment and placement of children with new statement of special educational needs (SEN) Somerset local authority area 
			   2001( 1)  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			   No.  %  No.  %  No.  %  No.  %  No.  % 
			 Total children assessed for SEN 181 — 90 — 75 — 82 — 85 — 
			
			  Of which:   
			 Children assessed under Section 323 of the Education Act 1996 during the calendar year for whom no statement was 13 7.2 15 16.7 7 9.2 9 11.0 6 7.1 
			 Children for whom statements were made for the first time during the calendar year(2) 168 92.8 75 83.3 69 90.8 73 89.0 79 92.9 
			
			  Of the children for whom statements were made for the first time, number of children placed in( 3):   
			 registered in early years education settings — — — — 1 1.4 5 6.8 1 1.3 
			 resourced provision in maintained mainstream schools 17 10.1 17 22.7 14 20.3 11 15.1 12 15.2 
			 SEN units in maintained mainstream schools — — — — — — — — 0 0.0 
			 maintained mainstream schools 103 61.3 29 38.7 25 36.2 24 32.9 29 36.7 
			 maintained special schools 30 17.9 16 21.3 18 26.1 21 28.8 22 27.8 
			 non-maintained special schools, independent special schools and other independent schools 10 6 5 6.7 7 10.1 11 15.1 12 15.2 
			 hospital schools and pupil referral units 2 1.2 1 1..3 0 0.0 1 1.4 3 3.8 
			 Children for whom statements were newly made and educated other than in school or awaiting provision 6 3.6 7 9.3 4 5.8 0 0.0 0 0.0 
			 (1 )In 2002 a change to the SEN Code of Practice was introduced which could have caused some disruption to time series data. In 2001 Somerset consulted its mainstream schools about increasing delegation. New arrangements were subsequently introduced resulting in a decrease in the number of children with statements placed in mainstream schools. (2 )Percentage is given of all new assessments made in the calendar year. (3 )Percentage is given of children for whom statements were made for the first time during the calendar year.  Source: SEA/2 Survey

Special Educational Needs

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what the formula is for special educational needs funding in Somerset; and how the formula was applied in the last year for which figures are available;
	(2)  what the Government's guidelines are on the spending formula for special educational needs funding in Somerset.

Parmjit Dhanda: The main SEN factor used by Somerset local authority in their funding formula is called 'School Action', which is designed to meet the additional education needs of pupils in mainstream schools. This is based on a commercially available social deprivation index. The index looks closely at numerous wealth/poverty factors, and maps this to the post codes of the pupils for each school, so funding is weighted towards the schools with the most pupils from deprived areas within Somerset. The authority also allocates funds for 'School Action Plus', which delegates funding for named pupils with complex needs identified through an audit or statement. The authority also funds SEN co-ordinator activities in individual schools.
	Somerset's section 52 budget statement for the current financial year 2006-07, shows that the authority has allocated through these factors just over £15.5 million. During the year an additional £0.8 million (held in the school specific contingency) is earmarked to schools for changing needs of individual pupils for School Action Plus.
	In May 2004 the Department published guidance for local authorities, "The Management of SEN Expenditure" which provides information and suggested approaches for local authorities to manage SEN expenditure. The guidance can be accessed online at www.teachernet.gov.uk/senexpenditure.

Student Loans

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what appeals process is available to parents in relation to income assessments made by the Student Loans Company.

Bill Rammell: If the parents or the student wish to appeal against the financial notification letter received from the SLC, they would normally be required to write to their local authority (LA) asking that their application be re-assessed. Similarly they would approach the LA if they wished for an explanation as to how the entitlement was reached. Where necessary LAs' formal appeals arrangements can be called upon.
	However, the London borough of Brent is one of 11 LAs taking part in a pilot being run by the Student Loans Company to test out different arrangements for the delivery of student finance. The pilot unit based in Darlington is dealing with all aspects of student finance applications which would previously have been dealt with by the London borough of Brent. If a parent or student in this case was dissatisfied, they would need to approach the application processing unit in Darlington asking that the application either be re-assessed or for an explanation regarding the entitlement.

Student Loans

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance he has issued to the Student Loans Company on the consideration of a parent's number of dependents when calculating parental contribution to their child's tuition fees.

Bill Rammell: For students starting in 2006/07, a loan is available to meet the full cost of tuition fees. This loan is not means-tested, so there is no parental contribution required. For students starting in 2005/06, and earlier, £1,050 of income for each child who is wholly or mainly dependent on the parent is disregarded in the income assessment for the grant for fees. This disregard also applies where a child is wholly or mainly financially dependent on the spouse/civil partner or co-habiting partner of the natural/adoptive parent. The child does not have to reside in the household that is being assessed.
	The £1,050 disregard is also applied to the income assessment for students starting in or before 2006/07 when considering entitlement to HE or maintenance grants as appropriate and maintenance loans.
	This is set out in the Student Support Regulations 2006 (as amended) at paragraph 3(3) and schedule 4. The Department's guidance to local authorities can be found at the following web address:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/studentsupport/administrators/dsp_section_107.shtml

Teachers Dress

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his policy is on the use of  (a) the niqab,  (b) the chador and  (c) the burka by teachers; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: It is for the employer, as part of the terms and conditions of employment agreed with employees, to establish an appropriate dress code relevant to the individual setting taking into account the requirements of the post and equality and diversity matters. The Department for Education and Skills has not issued any guidance on this matter.

Truth in Science

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what advice he plans to give to schools on the information pack circulated to all schools by Truth in Science.

Jim Knight: holding answer 18 October 2006
	It is up to schools to decide what teaching resources they need to help them deliver the national curriculum for science effectively. Neither intelligent design nor creationism are recognised scientific theories and they are not included in the science curriculum, the Truth in Science information pack is therefore not an appropriate resource to support the science curriculum.
	The national curriculum for science clearly sets down that pupils should be taught: how uncertainties in scientific knowledge and scientific ideas change over time; the role of the scientific community in validating these changes; variation within species can lead to evolutionary changes; and, similarities and differences between species can be measured and classified.

Youth Centres

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many youth centres there are in  (a) Leicestershire  (b) the East Midlands and  (c) England.

Parmjit Dhanda: holding answer 26 October 2006
	Youth centres are delivered locally by local authority youth services and national and local voluntary youth organisations. Information is not held centrally on the number of youth centres at local, regional or national level.

Youth Centres

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many youth centres there are in  (a) Lancashire,  (b) the North West and  (c) England.

Parmjit Dhanda: Youth centres are delivered locally by local authority youth services and national and local voluntary youth organisations. Information is not held centrally on the number of youth centres at local, regional or national level.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Bovine Tuberculosis

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice his Department is seeking from abroad on a vaccine to control bovine TB.

Ben Bradshaw: Defra officials have visited Ireland several times recently, to discuss the UK and Irish work programmes and areas of potential future collaboration, particularly regarding the design of badger field studies and licensing requirements for BCG. The Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) has active research links with Irish, New Zealand and United States researchers. The VLA is also collaborating in a Wellcome Trust funded project on vaccination of cattle with BCG in Ethiopia.
	Also, Defra's TB research programme, which includes a significant element of vaccines research, was reviewed this year and involved international experts.
	Further information on the Defra vaccine research programme is available on the Defra website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/tb/research/vaccine.htm.

Tuberculosis

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the Department has allocated to finding a vaccine to control  (a) cattle and  (b) wildlife borne tuberculosis; what stage trials have reached; and when it is likely to reach a conclusion.

Ben Bradshaw: In the last eight years, we have invested over £4.7 million in vaccine development for badgers and over £6.3 million in vaccine development for cattle. We have committed approximately £5.5 million per annum to future funding. Parallel work in relevant diagnostic projects is also done to support the vaccine work.
	The research programme for producing an effective vaccine against tuberculosis in cattle and badgers is broadly in line with the timetable set out in the Krebs Report:
	
		
			   Research programme 
			 Years 1-5 Identification of candidate vaccines and development of differential diagnostic tests 
			 Years 5-10 Experimental investigations of vaccination protocols 
			 Years 10-15 Field trials 
		
	
	The first stage started in 1999 and is ongoing. We are now planning and taking forward the second stage, testing candidate vaccines in naturally infected cattle and badgers, and developing novel vaccine delivery systems. We are taking advice from independent experts on these complex issues and collaborating with researchers from outside Great Britain.
	However, developing a vaccine is a long-term aim. Scientific research takes time and success cannot be guaranteed. A successful vaccine is about 10 years from completion and vaccines will only ever form one part of a balanced package of measures to control bovine TB.

Circus Welfare Working Group

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the remit is of the Circus Welfare Working Group; and what timetable has been set for its work.

Ben Bradshaw: The remit of the Circus Welfare Working Group is to provide, and consider, evidence relating to the transportation and housing needs of non-domesticated species. Further information, including the timetable set for its work, is available on the Defra website at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare/bill/circus_wg.htm.

Fly-tipping

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the possible effect on the levels of fly-tipping of increases in landfill tax.

Ben Bradshaw: Increases in landfill tax do not necessarily mean that fly-tipping incidents will also rise. There is no data to suggest that countries with higher levels of landfill tax than the UK have a significant problem with fly-tipping. Nevertheless, the Government continue to monitor levels of fly-tipping and ways in which the effects can be mitigated. Defra has also allocated £2 million of the receipts from landfill tax in 2006-07 from the Business Resource Efficiency and Waste programme to help the Environment Agency tackle illegal waste activity in the business community.
	In April 2004, the Flycapture database was set up to help local authorities and the Environment Agency improve information on the scale of fly-tipping and to help focus resources and identify trends in this growing environmental crime. Flycapture is enabling central and local government to demonstrate the true nature, extent and scale of fly-tipping. The data will be used to develop more effective, evidence based policies and strategies.
	Defra has also funded a research report by the Jill Dando Institute of Crime Science into the causes and incentives of fly-tipping. The report concludes that there are a number of separate causes of fly-tipping.
	Although the research recognises that one of these causes may be the cost of legitimate waste disposal, the landfill tax is an important instrument in reducing our reliance on landfill and moving to more sustainable waste management options. Diverting biodegradable waste from landfill will also cut harmful greenhouse gas emissions and signals the Government's serious commitment to tackle climate change on all fronts. The actual increases, together with the knowledge of the future rate of tax, is sending a strong signal. This will change behaviour, while allowing business time to adjust and make the necessary investment in alternative waste treatment routes.

Fly-tipping

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate the Environment Agency has made of the levels of fly-tipping in each year since 2001.

Ben Bradshaw: Flycapture, the national database of fly-tipping incidents, was set up in 2004 by Defra, the Environment Agency and the Local Government Association, to record fly-tipping incidents dealt with by the Environment Agency and local authorities. Data on fly-tipping levels are therefore only available from April 2004 onwards.
	Flycapture data shows that in England, 926,534 incidents were reported in the period April 2004 to March 2005. There were 1,034,518 incidents reported from April 2005 to March 2006.
	The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 introduced new measures which will help local authorities and the Environment Agency to combat fly-tipping. The 2005 act also introduced increased penalties for the offence.
	Defra and the Welsh Assembly Government have also funded the Environment Agency to develop Flycapture Enforcement, a local authority capacity building training package aimed at improving skills in enforcement and helping to improve efforts in prosecuting fly-tippers.

Guard Dogs

Adrian Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the welfare of dogs used for security of business premises; and what steps his Department is taking to promote the welfare of such dogs.

Ben Bradshaw: Currently, the welfare of dogs used for security of business premises is covered by the Protection of Animals Act 1911. This Act makes it an offence to ill-treat or cause unnecessary suffering to any domestic or captive animal in England and Wales. We are not aware of any specific welfare concerns regarding the use of dogs for security purposes.
	The Animal Welfare Bill, which is currently before Parliament, will reduce animal suffering by placing on those who own or are responsible for animals a duty to take steps to ensure their welfare. The Bill will help animal welfare agencies to take action when an animal is being treated contrary to its welfare needs, even if it is not immediately suffering. This means that all domestic or captive animals, including dogs used for security of business premises, must be cared for in accordance with the best animal management practices.

Home Composting

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government are taking to provide incentives for local authorities to promote home composting.

Ben Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) on 2 October 2006,  Official Report, column 2553W.
	Increasing the rate of home composting is an important way to reduce the amount of biodegradable waste being sent to landfill and therefore should help cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Performing Animals Working Group

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who the members are of the Performing Animals Working Group; what the remit is of the group; what the criteria are for membership of the group; how many meetings of the group have taken place; if he will place in the Library the minutes of its meetings; and how often the group meets.

Ben Bradshaw: The Performing Animals Working Group was a stakeholder group convened to discuss the proposals outlined in Defra's Regulatory Impact Assessment for regulating performing animals. The group met twice; on 27 October 2005 and 15 December 2005. A summary of these meetings is available on the Defra website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare/bill/perform_wg.htm.
	Membership of the group included representatives of welfare organisations, including the Royal and Scottish Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Dogs Trust and Born Free Foundation; representatives of the audio-visual industry, including Performing Animal Welfare Standards International (PAWSI), the Production Guild, the Animal Consultants and Trainers Association; and representatives of the circus and zoo industries.
	The group was disbanded after its second meeting, when it was felt that it would be more appropriate for consideration of how self-regulation might work to be taken forward by PAWSI, which was invited to run its own group with industry, welfare organisations and other interested parties. As this group is not a Defra working group it would not be appropriate for my Department to provide details of its membership, meetings and minutes.
	We will assess the progress of the PAWSI group in spring next year and, based on this, will consider the options on how to take the regulation of performing animals forward.

Pet Medicines

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what investigation he has undertaken of unlicensed and counterfeit pet medicines advertised on the internet.

Ben Bradshaw: Responsibility for the enforcement of unauthorised and counterfeit pet medicines rests with the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), one of Defra's agencies.
	The internet is one route through which authorised veterinary medicines can be sold legally.
	Reports of websites selling veterinary medicines illegally are investigated. Those UK based websites which do not change their practices may be subject to prosecution. The UK has no jurisdiction in other countries. For websites based outside the UK and selling veterinary medicines illegally in the UK, the VMD contacts the authorities in the country of origin to try to get the websites' illegal operations in the UK stopped.
	The sale of veterinary medicinal products in the UK is controlled by the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2006. These make it an offence to import, be in the possession of or administer unauthorised veterinary medicinal products. Therefore, UK customers dealing with these sites are committing offences under UK law and may have their purchases seized and be liable to prosecution.

Pet Travel Scheme

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many dogs have been admitted in each year since the inception of the pet travel scheme.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Number of dogs entering the UK under the pet travel  scheme (PETS) 
			   Number 
			 2000 12,633 
			 2001 23,158 
			 2002 36,410 
			 2003 48,938 
			 2004 57,418 
			 2005 69,549 
			 2006 (to September) 56,555

Pollution (Inspections)

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what factors were taken into account when deciding not to put the inspection process for the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations out to tender.

Ben Bradshaw: Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) is a development from the system of Integrated Pollution Control which was established under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 with Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution set up as the regulator. That body became part of the Environment Agency (EA) on its formation in 1996. The EA has continued to maintain and develop the high level of expertise necessary to regulate the wide variety of often complex industrial activities covered by the Act and the wider variety covered since 2000 by the Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations. Indeed, the level of expertise needed has increased as a result of the requirements of IPPC, which themselves have become fully apparent only in the light of implementation since 2000.
	Even if a comparable breadth of expertise could be found at an attractive cost as a result of a tendering process, the EA would itself still be left inevitably with a range of inspection-related tasks, including:
	(i) managing the tender process;
	(ii) ensuring that private sector inspectors have and maintain the necessary
	skills and knowledge;
	(iii) reviewing inspection reports;
	(iv) monitoring compliance with emission limits; and
	(v) deciding on the need for and nature of enforcement action.
	Furthermore, difficulties would remain arising from the need for private sector inspectors to have access to installations where national security issues are present.
	However, the EA is already using private companies to assist with the assessment of applications for IPPC permits. Contractors are used by the EA to undertake monitoring of industrial releases. This work is undertaken to tight standards and specifications set by the EA.
	The EA is continuing to develop its risk-based approach to inspection and the assessment of compliance with permit conditions. Commitment by an operator to the verification of its environmental performance by an independent third party verifier is taken into account by the EA's officers and can result in a reduced level of inspection and charges.
	The EA is always watchful for ways of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of its regulation and the achievement of environmental goals. This includes the use of a range of regulatory and other tools and could include the further use of private sector resources. One such possibility, which is now under consideration, is that of using synergies with assurance schemes for the intensive pig and poultry sectors, whose installations are expected to account for some 1,200 of the nearly 4,000 IPPC installations regulated by the EA.

Recycling

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance his Department has given to local authorities on the public health implications of requiring households in areas with a compulsory recycling scheme to store waste food separately before it is collected; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: This Department has not provided any specific guidance on the public health implications of requiring households to store waste food separately before it is collected. Section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 both empowers local authorities to specify the conditions of the waste collection service they provide, and requires them to inform the recipients of those conditions by way of a section 46 notice. The local authority can, under the Act, request that householders place their waste for collection in receptacles of a specific kind and number.
	Sealable waste containers for external storage are provided free of charge by the majority of local authorities operating separate food waste collections and around half provide kitchen caddies for household kitchens.
	The Department of Health has confirmed that the storage of household waste for periods of up to two weeks is unlikely to increase levels of biological material carried in the air, either indoors or outdoors, providing that the waste is sealed in the correct container. As far as the Department is aware all food waste only collections are weekly, so storage for any longer periods of time should not be necessary.
	In addition to local authority collections, the Government also encourages home composting as a good way of diverting biodegradable waste from landfill. The Waste and Resources Action Programme is working with local authorities and other partners to improve the uptake of home composting through the distribution of one million home composting bins to households across the country.

Veterinary Surgeons

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures he has put in place to increase the number of ethnic minority veterinary surgeons.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government fully accepted the recommendations made in Sir Alan Langlands' report "Gateway to the Professions". The Department for Education and Skills' response to the report is available on their website at: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/hegateway/uploads/Gateways%20to%20the%20Professions%20Govemment%20Response%20-%20Oct%202005%20-%20FINALpdf.
	Defra is working closely with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) to help the veterinary profession address these issues. We are consulting other government departments and agencies that employ veterinary surgeons via the Government Veterinary Surgeons network (GVS). We have also established a liaison group between the GVS and the Veterinary Schools.
	Defra is part funding a 'Gateways' project, led by the RCVS and supported by the Veterinary Colleges, aiming to change unhelpful stereotypes of the profession. This targets secondary schools and focuses on career advice.

Waste Management

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding the Government have allocated to local authorities under  (a) the Waste Performance and Efficiency Grant,  (b) the Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund,  (c) the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme and  (d) Waste private finance initiative credits to support the use of radio frequency identification chips to assist with domestic waste collection.

Ben Bradshaw: Alnwick district council and Leeds city council were allocated £43,335 and £98,981 respectively as part of the Household Incentives Pilot Scheme, funded from the Waste Performance and Efficiency Grant in 2005-06. The pilot schemes used weight-based technology, including radio frequency identification chips, which enabled local authorities to measure how successful efforts were to reduce residual waste and increase recycling. As well as encouraging more sustainable resource use, increase recycling rates help divert waste from landfill and therefore contributes to our efforts to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions. The final report from the Household Incentives Pilot Scheme is available on the Defra website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/localauth/encourage.htm.
	No other central Government funding has been specifically allocated to support the use of radio frequency identification chips.

Waste Management

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what  (a) funding streams,  (b) special grants and  (c) specific grants the Government has given to local authorities in England to promote (i) recycling, (ii) waste collection and (iii) waste disposal activities in each year since 1997-98.

Ben Bradshaw: The main source of funding for local authorities' waste management services is the Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services (EPCS) block of Government grant, distributed each year. It is for the local authorities to decide what proportion of the block to invest in waste management services, including recycling. Other funding allocated to local authorities in England for waste management since 1997 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			   Funding provided (million) 
			  Scheme  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund 50 90 90 45 — — 
			 Waste Performance and Efficiency Grant — — — 40 105 110 
			 Grant to Relieve Spending Pressures on Waste — — 20 — — — 
			 Household Incentives Pilot Scheme — — — 5 — — 
			 Private Finance Initiative 70 100 125 130 255 280 
			 Local Communication s Fund (WRAP) — — 16.2 — — 
			 Behavioural Change Local Fund (WRAP) — — — — 13

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the progress in Afghanistan towards each of the 43 benchmarks specified in the London Compact of 1 February 2006.

Kim Howells: The Afghanistan Compact, launched at the London conference on Afghanistan, 31 January—1 February 2006, sets out a clear framework for progress in Afghanistan, measured against 43 benchmarks covering Security, Governance, Rule of Law and Human Rights and Economic and Social Development. Process against these benchmarks is assessed by the Joint Co-ordination and Monitoring Board (JCMB), established under the Compact to oversee the implementation of its political commitments. The third quarterly meeting of the JCMB will take place on 12 November 2006.
	At this point, progress against the standards defined in the Compact will vary according to the timelines set out for each benchmark. These run from six months to five years. The first benchmark in the Compact was met when the Appointments Advisory Panel was established by presidential decree in September. As a member of the JCMB the UK is playing a full part in ensuring the Compact is implemented and carefully monitored.

Argentina

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps she is taking to promote free and fair elections in Argentina; which international observers will be present at those elections; and if she will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: The Government work with, inter alia, the Argentine government, Argentine civil society and through international organisations, to contribute to good governance and transparency initiatives throughout Argentina, predominantly through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Global Opportunities Fund.
	No public announcement has yet been made about the 2007 presidential elections. These are likely to be held in either March or October. International election monitors from one of the Latin American multilateral organisations may attend next year's elections, but no announcement has yet been made. The Inter-American Institute of Human Rights sent a team of monitors to the last presidential elections in 2003. They maintained a very low profile.
	There are no current indications that next year's presidential elections will be anything other than free and fair by international standards.

Arms Exports

Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of an end-use monitoring system for arms exports.

Kim Howells: The Government believe strongly that the assessment of any proposed export at the time of application, i.e. before the export goes ahead, is the best way to ensure exports are not diverted or misused. If at the licensing stage it is assessed that there is a risk that the equipment will be diverted from its stated end use, and hence not meet the requirements of the Consolidated EU and National Export Licensing Criteria, a licence will not be issued. Our diplomatic posts monitor local developments closely and note any information that comes to light that equipment supplied by the UK has been used in a manner inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria. This will be taken into consideration when assessing any future export licence applications. The relevant licence may also be revoked, and the authorities in the country concerned asked to investigate.

Burma

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate has she made of the value in sterling of the assets of Burmese regime officials frozen in each year since the ban's inception; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: Those on the assets freeze list are unlikely to hold bank accounts in the UK or the EU. The current reported value of assets frozen by UK authorities on the basis of the EU restrictive measures applied to Burma is £3,576.65. The value of assets frozen in previous years were:-
	
		
			   £ 
			 2003 0.40 
			 2004 3,548.43 
			 2005 3,576.65 
		
	
	The freezing of assets of the Burmese regime and its associates is one of a number of such measures intended to exert pressure on the regime to enact democratic reforms. By denying regime figures access to the EU and its financial centres, including Switzerland where the EU's policy directly influenced the Swiss to take similar measures, the EU sends a powerful message that the Burmese Government current policies are unacceptable.
	All EU member states are required to implement the restrictive measures set out in the EU Common Position.

Caucasus

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of  (a) the independence movements of the North and South Caucasus and  (b) the potential for further instability in the region.

Geoff Hoon: The UK recognises the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia to include South Ossetia and Abkhazia. We do not recognise the claims to independence of the separatist movements in these regions. The UK supports the peaceful resolution of the conflicts in these regions and is working to address the recent tension between Georgia and Russia. We co-sponsored UN Security Council Resolution 1716 extending the mandate of the UN Observer Mission in Abkhazia. The EU issued a statement on 17 October calling on Georgia and Russia to resume dialogue and focus on reaching a peaceful resolution of the conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, with full respect for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity. I recently visited Georgia and stressed to President Saakashvili and others in the Georgian Government the importance of peaceful negotiation of a settlement with the parties to the conflicts.
	We also support the efforts of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe Minsk Group to find a negotiated settlement of the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno Karabakh (NK). We recognise the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan to include NK.
	We also recognise the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Russian Federation to include all of the republics of the North Caucasus, including Chechnya. We do not recognise the claims to independence of the Chechen separatist movement. We urge all sides of the conflict in Chechnya to work towards peace and reconciliation within the framework of the Russian Federation and with full respect for human rights. The UK has been increasingly concerned by the spread of violence and instability across the North Caucasus region. We are troubled particularly by the poor security situation and frequency of incidents in the republics of Ingushetia and Dagestan. Instability across the region is fuelled by widespread poverty, corruption and high unemployment. We believe that the long-term problems of the region can only be solved through socio-economic development and the implementation of security measures which respect human rights.

Chechnya

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment her Department has made of the situation in Chechnya.

Geoff Hoon: I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Dr. Howells), gave the hon. Member for Angus (Mr. Weir) on 9 October 2006,  Official Report, columns 448-49W.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps she is taking to promote free and fair elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo; which international observers will be present at those elections; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade gave on 9 October 2006,  Official Report, column 424W to the hon. Member for North-East Milton Keynes (Mr. Lancaster) on promoting free and fair elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
	There are an estimated 1,000 registered international observers for the second round of elections in the DRC, attached to approximately 24 different observer missions including teams from the EU, Southern African Development Community and the Carter Centre. The EU Election Observation Mission comprises 250 long and short term observers and the UK observation team will comprise about 16 British civil servants, together with four hon. Members.

Diplomatic Service

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will list the countries where the UK has  (a) closed and  (b) downgraded its embassy or high commission in each year since 1997.

Geoff Hoon: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 26 October 2005,  Official Report, column 467W by the then Foreign Secretary my right hon. Friend the Member for Blackburn (Mr. Straw) to the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker). The following is a list of British embassy and high commission closures since this answer was given:
	
		
			  Year: 1 April to 31 March 
			   Mission closed 
			 2005-06 Abidjan(1), Port Vila and Nuku'alofa 
			 2006-07 Dili 
			 (1) Operations have been suspended due to the uncertain security situation in the Ivory Coast. 
		
	
	No British embassies or high commissions have been downgraded since 1997 and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has no current plans to downgrade any such missions in the future.
	The FCO continuously reviews the deployment of its resources and aligns them flexibly in line with UK interests to benefit the British taxpayer.

Ethiopia/Somalia

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of  (a) the Ethiopian involvement in Somalia and  (b) whether the conflict in Somalia is likely to spread to Ethiopia.

Kim Howells: I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade gave the hon. Member for Romford (Andrew Rosindell) on 23 October 2006,  Official Report, columns 1617-1618W.

Freedom of Information

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of requests for information by  (a) hon. Members and  (b) members of the public under the Freedom of Information Act have been refused by her Department for each complete year for which figures are available.

Margaret Beckett: In 2005, the last year for which figures are available, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office refused a total of 22 per cent. of Freedom of Information (FOI) requests. This figure breaks down as follows: 8 per cent. were refused because the cost of responding was likely to exceed the £600 cost limit, and 13 per cent. were considered to engage various of the Act's exemptions which prevented any information being released.
	FOI requestors are not required to provide details about themselves. Our statistics do not distinguish between hon. Members, members of the public or any other type of requestor.

Honours

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which individuals who are not UK citizens were awarded honours between 1 January 2001 and 31 December 2001; and what the  (a) date of announcement,  (b) honour concerned and  (c) reason for the award was in each case.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 30 October 2006
	As the information requested is lengthy, I will arrange for it to be placed in the Library of the House, and to also send a copy to the hon. Member.
	As honorary awards to citizens of countries where Her Majesty the Queen is not Head of State are not formally announced, the date of the Queen's formal approval of such awards is given.

Human Rights

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many copies of her Department's Human Rights Annual Report 2006 were produced; at what cost; how many copies were supplied gratis; to whom; at what cost; how much of the cost was attributable to  (a) postage,  (b) time of staff and  (c) the cost of producing copies; how many officials were responsible for researching the information contained in the report; what criteria she uses to (i) include and (ii) exclude information from the report; who implements these criteria; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) produced 3,000 copies of the 2006 Annual Report on Human Rights. 3,000 CD-ROM versions are also being produced.
	The overall budget for the Report was £135,000. Final invoices have yet to be received, but the final cost will be very close to this figure.
	500 copies of the report have been given to The Stationery Office. 30 copies of the report have so far been distributed free of charge to hon. Members and noble Peers, including the Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC). Copies have been laid in the Libraries of both Houses, and sent to foreign embassies in London (175), human rights-related non-governmental organisations (203) and educational institutions (65). Copies have also been distributed to various Departments in the FCO (approximately 200 to date) and to all FCO overseas posts (approximately 450 to date), who pass them on to host Governments. Approximately 200 copies were distributed at the report's launch.
	The overall cost of postage is not yet available. A contracted, temporary member of staff arranged distribution of the initial batch of copies to the recipients listed above. The portion of his fee attributed to this (included in the overall budget figure, mentioned above) was £590.
	Requests for extra copies were still being received from posts, Departments and other contacts. Experience shows that posts and Departments request further copies for specific events throughout the year. The final number of gratis copies issued will not be known for some time.
	Officials in FCO Departments responsible for each country and subject area contributed the information in the report, in addition to the editorial team in the FCO's Human Rights, Democracy and Governance Group (HRDGG), which is responsible for publication. It would incur disproportionate cost to assess the total number of staff who contributed.
	There is no specific criteria for excluding information from the report, except that which falls outside the time scale it is intended to cover. The basic shape of the annual report has been in place for five years and is now well established. Contributors take on board recommendations from the FAC when compiling the report.
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary agreed the outline and general content of the report at the beginning of the process, some six months prior to the intended launch date. HRDGG co-ordinated the publication of the report and, as such, has editorial control of the process. Contributors determine the exact content. These contributors are the FCO policy leads for each country or topic, with input from posts. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary approved the final version of the report.

International Organisations

David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will list the international organisations of which the UK is a member; and how much money it paid to each such organisation in the last year for which figures are available.

Kim Howells: The UK is a member of and pays assessed contributions to a number of international organisations. Some international organisations budget on financial years, others on calendar years. The figures for UK assessed contributions in 2005-06, except where otherwise indicated, are:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 Commonwealth Secretariat and Foundation (includes Commonwealth Funds for Technical Co-operation and Learning) 10.7 
			 Council of Europe 20.8 
			 North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Civil, Military and Security Investment Programme budgets) 130 
			 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (2006) 15.6 
			 Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (excludes field missions) 3.13 
			 United Nations (2005) (includes UN Regular Budget and core funding for Specialised Agencies, Conventions, peacekeeping operations, criminal courts and tribunals) 314.5 
			 Western European Union 1.6 
		
	
	The figures do not include UK voluntary payments to other funds, programmes and projects of these international organisations. These are made by Government Departments in accordance with their specific areas of policy responsibility. There is no central record available. A breakdown of additional voluntary contributions to the UN system in 2005, may be found in "The United Kingdom in the United Nations" (Cm 6892) which my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary laid before Parliament in July 2006.

Iran

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with her EU counterparts on investment by European energy companies in upstream oil and gas developments in Iran; and what the outcome was of these discussions.

Margaret Beckett: I have not discussed such investments with my EU colleagues.
	On 6 June the EU High Representative, Javier Solana, presented proposals to Iran on behalf of the 'E3+3' (France, Germany, UK + China, Russia, US) as the basis for a possible long-term solution to the nuclear issue. These make clear that as part of a long-term agreement, we would support the establishment of a long-term energy partnership between Iran and the EU. Regrettably Iran has not taken the steps required by the International Atomic Energy Agency Board and the UN Security Council, which would enable negotiations to begin.

Iran

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when she last met the Iranian ambassador to the UK to discuss Iran's nuclear programme.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has yet to meet the Iranian ambassador. She discussed Iran's nuclear programme with the Iranian Foreign Minister when they met in New York on 19 September.
	I met the Iranian ambassador on 12 September to discuss Iran's nuclear programme and other areas of concern. Since taking up his post in July 2006, the Iranian ambassador has also discussed the nuclear issue with senior Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials on a number of occasions.

Iran

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on Iran's referral to the Security Council.

Kim Howells: Successive reports by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General have made clear Iran's failure to co-operate folly with the IAEA and its failure to address the IAEA Board's concerns. As a result, the Board requested in its Resolution of 4 February that the Director-General should report to the UN Security Council the steps required of Iran.
	Since then the Security Council has taken a close interest. In a Presidential Statement on 29 March, the Security Council called on Iran to comply with IAEA Board Resolutions, including by fully suspending all uranium enrichment related and reprocessing activities. Security Council Resolution 1696, adopted on 31 July, made the suspension mandatory.
	The IAEA Director-General's 31 August report makes clear that Iran has not complied with IAEA Board and Security Council Resolutions. Nor has Iran taken the steps that would enable negotiations on a long-term solution to begin on the basis of the generous proposals Javier Solana presented on 6 June on behalf of the 'E3+3'(France, Germany, UK + China, Russia, US).
	E3+3 Foreign Ministers met in London on 6 October and agreed that Iran's approach leaves us no choice but to seek another Security Council Resolution imposing sanctions. We are now consulting members of the Security Council on a draft. We continue to urge Iran to respond positively to our proposals. If Iran takes the steps required by the IAEA Board and the Security Council we remain ready to suspend further action by the Council.

Iraq

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact on the people of Iraq of the US/UK military action in March 2003; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: As a result of Coalition military action in 2003, the Iraqi people were freed from decades of brutal dictatorship. Iraq now has a democratically elected government, under a permanent new constitution. Over 12 million people, or 76 per cent. of the electorate, voted in the December 2005 election.
	With UK and international help, Iraq is making progress on improving essential services and infrastructure. 4 million more Iraqis have access to potable water than before the conflict, and 9.6 million more have access to a sewerage system. 240 hospitals and 1,200 primary health care centres are functioning, 20 hospitals are being rehabilitated and one major hospital is under construction. Over 5 million children have received life saving vaccinations and there has been a resulting decline in malaria, measles, mumps, and polio. Around 5,000 schools have been refurbished and more than 70 million new textbooks have been distributed throughout schools. Electricity generation is currently struggling to meet demand, partly because so many Iraqis have bought new electrical appliances since 2003. However, major repair projects are underway to maintain a sustainable power grid and deliver increased output. The Department for International Department is managing a £40 million programme to improve power and water supplies in southern Iraq.
	There are plainly major challenges ahead—in particular the need to bring down the appalling levels of violence which some parts of Iraq are suffering. This is the Iraqi government's highest priority—and ours.

Iraq

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the US Secretary of State regarding Iraq.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and US Secretary of State Rice discuss Iraq on a regular basis. Their most recent meetings were during Secretary Rice's visit to the UK on 6 October and in New York at the UN General Assembly during the week beginning 18 September.

Lebanon

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the prospects for the deployment of an international force in Lebanon.

Kim Howells: The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has already begun deploying in strength under its new mandate set out in UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1701. Following the first phase of the expansion of UNIFIL, over 8,800 troops have been deployed. A second phase is in preparation, which will take the numbers up to approximately 10,000. The ceasefire that was established on 14 August by UNSCR 1701 is continuing to hold and, with UNIFIL support, the Lebanese armed forces have deployed in the south of the country for the first time in many years. The UN Secretary General, in his 30 day report on the implementation of UNSCR 1701, said the co-ordination mechanism between the Lebanese armed forces, the Israel Defense Forces and UNIFIL was going well.

Light Bulbs

Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of light bulbs purchased by her Department in 2005 were of the compact fluorescent type.

Geoff Hoon: 80 per cent. of all light bulbs purchased by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 2005-06 were of energy efficient types. 38 per cent. of all light bulbs purchased by the FCO were compact fluorescent bulbs. This information relates to our home estate. We do not hold data centrally on the purchase of light bulbs for our overseas estate.

Marine Pollution

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the health implications to the people of Abidjan of the release of toxic liquid from the ship Proba Koala.

Kim Howells: The dumping of toxic waste in and around Abidjan at the end of August was a very serious and regrettable health risk, causing the deaths of seven local residents. Figures received by the EU in mid-September suggest that as many as 37,483 local residents sought some form of medical attention, although this figure does not necessarily reflect the total number of those affected. The UK, through the European Union Civil Protection Co-operation Mechanism, offered to provide an assessment of the impact of the toxic waste on the environment and population. In the event, however, this assistance was not required as the Ivorian authorities had sought the assistance of a private waste-management company.

Marine Pollution

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the outcome was of the United Nations discussion on the toxic spillage in Cote d' Ivoire on 20 September 2006.

Kim Howells: The meeting on 20 September at the UN regarding Cote d'Ivoire concentrated primarily on the current stalemate in the peace process, although we understand the toxic waste dumping was deplored by several speakers. In a statement on 15 September a spokesman for the UN Secretary-General had already expressed concern over the tragic consequences of the dumping. The full text of the statement can be found on the UN website at:
	http://www/un.org/News/Press/docs/2006/sgsm10637.doc.htm.

Middle East

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate she has made of how many  (a) Israelis and  (b) Lebanese were killed during the Lebanese conflict between (i) 1 June and 17 August 2006, (ii) 17 and 27 August 2006 and (iii) 27 August and 28 September 2006.

Kim Howells: The recent conflict between Hezbollah and Lebanon began on 12 July and formally ended on 14 August 2006. The UN estimates that 1,187 Lebanese people were killed as a result of the conflict and the Israeli authorities have said that 115 Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) soldiers and 39 civilians were killed in the hostilities. The estimates on the Lebanese side are necessarily approximate, as bodies continued to be recovered and counted after the ceasefire ended and unexploded ordnance has continued to cause fatalities. Between 17 and 27 August 2006 we understand that one Hezbollah fighter was killed by the IDF. Between 27 August and 28 September we are not aware of any people on either side who were killed as a result of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.

Muslim Council of Britain

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much  (a) financial support and  (b) support in kind her Department and its agencies have given to the Muslim Council of Britain in each year since 1997.

Kim Howells: This information is not held centrally in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. To provide an answer to this question would therefore incur disproportionate cost.

North Korea

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has made to each participant in the Six Party Talks on North Korea's recent nuclear test.

Geoff Hoon: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary spoke to Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing on 9 October and again on 13 October. She spoke to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and to Japanese Foreign Minister Aso on 9 October, and to South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki Moon on 10 October.
	During these discussions, all parties agreed that the test carried out by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) was a clear example of a threat to international peace and security, that it necessitated a robust response from the UN Security Council and that the Six Party Talks are the way forward.
	My right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade also called the DPRK ambassador in London to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 10 October to make clear our views.

Nuclear Non-proliferation

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations she has made to the Governments of  (a) the United States,  (b) Japan and  (c) South Korea on nuclear non-proliferation.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had a number of discussions with her United States, Japanese and South Korean colleagues on non-proliferation issues. These have focused on the current situations in Iran and North Korea.

Nuclear Non-proliferation

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations she has made to the Secretary-General of the United Nations regarding  (a) reform of the nuclear non-proliferation regime,  (b) closer working with other multilateral organisations,  (c) the United Kingdom's direct contribution to the United Nations and indirect contribution to funds and programmes,  (d) individual member countries' willingness to contribute to UN peacekeeping operations,  (e) the effectiveness of the International Criminal Court and  (f) reform of the Security Council and General Assembly procedures.

Kim Howells: There have been no recent discussions on the issues the hon. Member raises. At their last meeting in September, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed with the Secretary-General of the UN the situations in Darfur, the Middle East, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Kosovo.
	The UK continues to support measures to strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation regime and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) which serves as its cornerstone. The UK looks forward to positive progress during the next NPT review cycle, which begins with the first Preparatory Commission in May 2007.
	At the Security Council debate on 20 September on co-operation between the UN and regional organisations, I emphasised that the UN and other multilateral organisations should build stronger relationships, particularly on conflict resolution and prevention, terrorism, weapons proliferation, poverty, climate change and human rights.
	The UK is committed to paying the UK's assessed contribution to the UN Regular Budget in full and on time in line with our obligations under the UN Charter. We maintain a rigorous approach in UN Budget negotiations seeking efficiencies and savings, while also ensuring the UN has the resources it needs to carry out the tasks we and other member states ask of it.
	The UK regularly lobbies troop contributing countries and potential troop contributing countries to participate in UN missions.
	The UK is a strong supporter of the International Criminal Court and welcomes the transfer to The Hague of Thomas Lubanga, the first person to face trial by the court.The establishment and consolidation of the court is an important development in international justice and the fight against impunity for those who perpetrate genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
	The UK continues to support expansion of the UN Security Council, to make it more representative of today's world. At his foreign policy speech in Georgetown, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister called for renewed momentum to the debate. The UK also supports a more effective General Assembly and welcomes measures adopted by UN member states, most recently in September, to streamline its work.

Pakistan

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations have been made to the government of Pakistan concerning the position of Christians in Pakistan.

Kim Howells: I raised the issue of Christians in Pakistan during my meeting with the Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on 7 March and asked him to take action to protect religious minorities. In August, our Deputy High Commissioner in Karachi also raised this issue with the Pakistani Minister for Religious Minorities. We shall continue to look for suitable opportunities to repeat this.

Palestine

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the willingness of Hamas to move towards meeting the conditions of the international community for donor funding for Palestine.

Kim Howells: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for West Lancashire (Rosie Cooper) on 9 October 2006,  Official Report, column 447W.

Philippines

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has made on human rights in the Philippines, with particular reference to the recent death of Bishop Alberto Ramento.

Geoff Hoon: We are concerned about the reports of unexplained killings in the Philippines. Our embassy and successive EU Presidencies in Manila have raised human rights and the issue of unexplained killings with the Philippine Foreign Minister on several occasions. The case of Bishop Alberto Ramento has not been raised specifically.
	Most recently, these issues were raised by the President of the European Commission and the Finnish EU Presidency, when Philippine President Arroyo attended EU meetings in Helsinki on 20 September.

Psychological Operations

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on the conduct by its agents of psychological operations activities in the UK.

Margaret Beckett: I refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave him on 14 July 2006,  Official Report, column 2138W and 23 October 2006,  Official Report, column 1618W.

Russia

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what involvement her Department has had in the efforts of the Finnish presidency of the EU to obtain a long-term agreement with Russia on energy supply and trade with the EU.

Geoff Hoon: The Government welcome the priority the Finnish EU presidency has attached to energy security and has worked closely with it and other EU partners on this issue.
	As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister informed the House in a written ministerial statement on 23 October 2006,  Official Report, columns 71-72WS, at the 20 October informal meeting in Lahti of heads of state or Government and President Putin, there was a constructive discussion of the EU's external energy relations, in particular our relationship with Russia. There was unity among EU partners on the need to build a close and legally binding partnership based on mutual, long-term benefits based on the principles of the energy charter treaty and the declaration agreed at the G8 summit in St. Petersburg in July this year. These principles include market-based rules, market opening, and transparency and reliability across the whole of the energy relationship. The EU will shortly start negotiations with Russia on a new comprehensive agreement to replace the 10-year-old partnership and co-operation agreement. The EU agreed that these principles should form the core of any new agreement. The Government stand by and will apply these principles firmly, and are counting on Russia, as a key energy supplier to downstream markets, to do the same. The Government see the energy relationship with Russia, and the way in which this relationship is likely to develop, including its EU dimension, firmly within the context of this principle-based relationship. For his part, President Putin stated his conviction at Lahti that energy co-operation should be based on principles of predictability of the energy markets and the mutual dependence of suppliers and consumers.
	Russia applied to join the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 1993. The European Commission negotiates in the WTO on behalf of the EU. Although the EU and Russia have concluded the terms of a bilateral agreement on market access arrangements for goods and services, other WTO members have yet to do the same. There are also a number of issues that need to be resolved before Russia can accede to the WTO on the right terms and conditions to enable Russia to meet her obligations as a WTO member. It is unlikely that any long-term EU/Russia trade agreement will be negotiated before Russia accedes to the WTO.

Russia

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports she has received on the recent expulsion of Georgian  (a) students and  (b) others from Russia.

Geoff Hoon: Our embassies in Moscow and Tbilisi provide regular updates on the situation regarding the treatment of Georgians within Russia, as they regularly do on human rights issues. We are aware that there have been a number of flights that have been used to deport Georgians. We have asked both sides to de-escalate tensions. In this regard, we have directly raised with the Russians the desirability of their lifting the measures taken against Georgia and have urged Russia not to pursue measures targeting Georgians.

Russia

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions her Department has had with the Russian government on freedom of the press and media organisations.

Geoff Hoon: We regularly discuss the progress of democratic reforms in Russia, including freedom of the press, with the Russian authorities. We have regular consultations on this question as part of our human rights dialogues, both on a bilateral basis and through the EU. This issue was raised at the EU-Russia Human Rights Consultations in Vienna in March 2006 and will form part of the next EU-Russia Consultations in Brussels on 8 November. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister attended the informal Heads of Government meeting in Lahti on 20 October where the EU expressed its concerns about media freedom in Russia following the tragic murder of Anna Politkovskaya.

Sudan

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports she has received on the expulsion of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the UN in Sudan from that country; and what assessment she has made of the likely effect of his expulsion on  (a) a peace deal being secured in the region and  (b) human rights in Sudan.

Kim Howells: The Government condemns the decision by the Sudanese Government to expel Jan Pronk, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative to Sudan. This step will contribute nothing to solving the problems of Sudan: Khartoum needs to co-operate with the UN to steer the comprehensive peace agreement to a successful conclusion and to bring an end to the appalling conflict in Darfur. We are in close contact with the UN Secretariat on their response and have protested directly to President Bashir. We call upon the Sudanese Government to reconsider its decision.
	But notwithstanding the next steps over this regrettable decision, UN efforts must and will continue to address the suffering of the people of Sudan.

Thailand

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment she has made of democracy in Thailand; what assessment she has made of the effect of the political situation in Thailand on human, political and civil rights in that country; what discussions she has held on the restoration of democracy in Thailand; what representations she has made on the return to democracy in that country; and if she will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: I refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend the Minister for the Middle East gave to the hon. Member for The Wrekin (Mark Pritchard) on 9 October 2006,  Official Report, columns 457-458W, and the reply given to the hon. Member by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade on 19 October 2006,  Official Report, column 1398W.
	Through our embassy in Bangkok and in conjunction with our international partners, we have made clear to the interim Thai administration that we regret the coup, that we call for an early lifting of martial law and other restrictions on political and individual liberty, and that we encourage the swift re-establishment of democracy.
	With our EU and other partners, we shall continue to monitor closely the political situation in Thailand and its effect on human, political and civil rights, as well as the rule of law.

Tibetan Refugees (Nangpa La Pass)

Robert Walter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make representations to the Chinese government on the whereabouts of a party of Tibetan refugees travelling through the Nangpa La Pass between Tibet and Nepal on 30 September 2006.

Geoff Hoon: The Office of the UN High Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR) in Nepal confirmed that 43 of the party of Tibetan refugees travelling through the Nangpa La Pass on 30 September 2006 arrived in Nepal; 41 have since travelled to India with UNHCR assistance. Following the reported shooting of one or more Tibetans on the Nangpa La Pass on this date, we have been working both bilaterally and with the EU to seek an urgent and transparent investigation by the Chinese government, including on the whereabouts of the remainder of the party. The EU raised the incident with the Chinese government at the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue, held in Beijing on 19 October 2006.

UN Security Council

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Permanent Representative of the UK to the UN on the election to the Security Council of a South American Member; what steps she plans to take on the matter; and which candidate she supports for the seat.

Kim Howells: My right. hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has instructed the UK mission to the UN on how the UK should vote in the elections. However, it is long standing UK policy never to reveal voting intentions or decisions for UN Security Council elections. We are giving all candidates our fullest consideration, taking into account their contributions to the work of the UN, particularly on issues of international peace and security.
	The UK places the greatest importance on the continued effectiveness of the Security Council and we hope that whoever is elected will contribute positively to its work.

UN Security Council

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made with the election of a South American member of the UN Security Council.

Kim Howells: As of 26 October, there have been 41 inconclusive ballots for the election of the Latin American and Caribbean seat on the Security Council for 2007-08. Neither Guatemala nor Venezuela has yet gained a two-thirds majority of those members of the General Assembly present and voting to be elected to the Council. The next ballot was scheduled for Tuesday 31 October.

Zimbabwe

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations her Department has made to the government of Zimbabwe on  (a) economic instability and inflation,  (b) government instability,  (c) human, civil and political rights,  (d) treatment of prisoners,  (e) treatment of children and  (f) HIV/AIDS infection in that country.

Kim Howells: The situation in Zimbabwe is desperate, including the important issues raised by the hon. Member. We have raised our concerns directly with the Zimbabwean Government on many occasions. I summoned the Zimbabwean ambassador, Mr. Gabriel Machinga, in September, to protest against human rights abuses. Our ambassador in Harare has pressed senior Zimbabwean Government representatives, including the Reserve Bank Governor, on the urgent need far economic reform. We have taken action with EU partners, including a formal complaint over the arrests and detention of more than 400 women and children following Valentine's day protests.
	Working with local partners, the UK has committed £20 million to work on HIV prevention, anti retroviral therapy and behavioural change services.

HEALTH

Alzheimer's Disease

Dennis Skinner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in the last ten years in  (a) England and  (b) the East Midlands.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is not held centrally.

Alzheimer's Disease

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to ensure that clinicians continue to be able to exercise flexibility in prescribing drugs for people with Alzheimer's disease following the guidance issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.

Andy Burnham: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has not yet published its final revised guidance to the national health service on drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's Disease

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many pieces of correspondence her Department has received about the availability of drugs for Alzheimer's disease on the NHS since March 2005 from  (a) hon. Members,  (b) peers and  (c) members of the public.

Ivan Lewis: Due to the way we record correspondence, we can only provide information going back as far as March 2005 at disproportionate cost. However, we can provide information on correspondence received since August 2005.
	Since August 2005, we have received the following amount of correspondence about the availability of drugs for Alzheimer's disease on the national health service:
	1,425 letters from hon. Members;
	two letters from peers; and
	383 pieces of correspondence from members of the public.

Audiologists

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department is taking to ensure an adequate supply of qualified audiologists.

Ivan Lewis: A range of workforce supply initiatives are in place to ensure the national health service workforce continues to meet service needs. These include: improving pay and conditions; encouraging the NHS to become a better, more flexible and diverse employer; increasing training; investing in childcare and continuing professional development; attracting back returners and running national and international recruitment campaigns.
	A BSc course in audiology was introduced in 2003-04.
	The first cohort of BSc audiology students entered training in 2003-04 and is expected to graduate in 2006
	The Department's commercial directorate is currently scoping a procurement of audiology services from the independent sector, as part of the independent sector treatment centre programme, which will add significant capacity and resource to audiology services in order to help tackle waiting lists. The procurement will be advertised during November, with service commencement during the latter half of 2007.

Breast screening

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will take steps to encourage all eligible women to attend breast screening appointments; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Mammography is the most reliable method of detecting breast screening early but, like other screening tests, it is not perfect. Women invited to participate in the breast screening programme need to understand the potential benefits and harms in doing so and to be able to make an informed choice about whether or not they wish to proceed.
	Information provided to women must be honest, comprehensive and understandable. That is why the NHS cancer plan stated that all eligible women will receive a national information leaflet on breast screening, which is now sent out with each invitation for screening and can be viewed at www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk
	To raise awareness about the availability of breast cancer screening, NHS cancer screening programmes issued a regional communications pack to all local breast screening programmes in 2004. The packs include advice on raising the awareness of screening, including posters, and supplement local activity to promote the availability of breast screening. We encourage all women to make an informed choice on whether to accept their invitations to be screened.

Cancer Treatment

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time for cancer treatment in the London borough of Bexley was in  (a) 1997 and  (b) 2001.

Rosie Winterton: The information for 1997 is not held centrally by the Department.
	The first published data on the 31-day target for referral to treatment for rare cancers and for the 31-day target for diagnosis to treatment for breast cancer was 2001-02 quarter four as shown on the following table. Data have been used from Bromley Hospital National Health Service Trust, Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust and Queen Mary's Sidcup NHS Trust. Queen Mary's Sidcup did not have any rare cancer referrals in 2001-02 quarter four.
	
		
			  Number of patients treated for children's cancer, testicular cancer and acute leukaemia, and proportion of patients starting treatment within 31 days of GP referral, in Bexley region 2001-02—quarter 4 
			   Total number of patients treated during the quarter  Percentage of patients treated within 31 days of referral 
			 Bexley region(1) 3 100 
			 England 342 95.6 
			 (1) Figures are for Bromley Hospital NHS Trust and Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust.   Source:  CWT-Db, Department of Health 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of patients treated for breast cancer, and proportion of patients starting treatment within 31 days of diagnosis, in Bexley region 2001-02—quarter 4 
			   Total number of patients treated during the quarter  Percentage of patients treated within 31 days of referral 
			 Bexley region(1) 103 99.0 
			 England 6,315 94.2 
			 (1) Figures are for Bromley Hospital NHS Trust, Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust and Queen Mary's Sidcup NHS Trust.   Note:  The NHS Cancer Plan sets out new goals to reduce waiting times for diagnosis and treatment. The ultimate goal is that no one should wait longer that one month from an urgent referral for suspected cancer to the beginning of treatment except for a good clinical reason or through patient choice, it is hoped to achieve this by 2008. For some uncommon cancers like acute leukaemia, children's and testicular cancer, this is what most patients already experience. For those patients that are routinely referred but subsequently diagnosed with cancer there will be a maximum one month wait from diagnosis to treatment by the end of 2005. There will also be a maximum two month wait from urgent GP referral to treatment for all cancers by 2005. There is a series of staged milestones towards this goal: Maximum one month wait from urgent GP referral to treatment guaranteed for children's and testicular cancers and acute leukaemia by 2001. Maximum one month wait from diagnosis to treatment for breast cancer by 2001. Maximum two month wait from urgent GP referral to treatment for breast cancer by 2002. Maximum one month wait from diagnosis to treatment for all cancers from 2005. Maximum two month wait from urgent GP referral to treatment for all cancers from 2005.   Source:  CWT-Db, Department of Health

Carers

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will widen the remit and scope of investigations by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to include an assessment of the wider benefits of treatments to the carers and families of patients.

Andy Burnham: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) already takes factors such as benefits to carers into account in its technology appraisals where it is appropriate to do so.

Community Health Services

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many primary care trusts had submitted advanced plans for community health services to strategic health authorities as of 31 September, 2006; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  how many representations her Department has received from North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire strategic health authority regarding the implementation of the White Paper "Our Health, our Care, our Say" with specific reference to community hospitals; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  how many primary care trusts had bid for a portion of the £750 million of capital made available by her Department for community hospitals as of 30 September 2006; and if she will make a statement;

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many applications have been received from primary care trusts for money from the Community Hospitals Fund; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The Department is committed to allocating £750 million of capital to primary care trusts (PCTs) for new community hospitals and services over the next five years. For the first allocation round, the deadline for PCTs to submit bids to their respective strategic health authorities (SHAs) was 30 September 2006. The deadline for SHAs to submit to the Department any bids they support is 21 October 2006.
	Informal dialogue between the Department and SHAs has indicated that at least nine PCTs had submitted bids to their respective SHAs by 30 September 2006.

Connecting for Health

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she plans to dissolve Connecting for Health.

Caroline Flint: Arrangements are currently in hand for NHS Connecting for Health to become a time-limited executive agency of the Department.

Consultation Costs

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate she has made of the average cost of a consultation at a  (a) general practitioner surgery,  (b) minor injuries unit,  (c) walk-in centre and  (d) accident and emergency department.

Andy Burnham: The Department does not collect the costs and volumes of general practitioner (GP) activity levels.
	The following table shows data for national average reported costs for attendances at:
	minor injuries unit (MIU);
	walk in centres, first and follow up; and
	accident and emergency (A and E) department.
	
		
			  Reference costs code  A and E services  National average unit cost (£) 
			 V100MI Discrete MIU (3) 37 
			 V100WIFA Walk in centres (first attendance only) 27 
			 V01-V08 24-hour A and E department (4) 87 
			 V100MC Non-24-hour A and E department/casualty department 32 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are for 2004-05, as reported by NHS providers in the 2004-05 reference cost collection. 2 Reference costs data for these services are reported on a full absorption costing basis per attendance and so include both direct costs, e.g. staff costs, and indirect costs, e.g. overheads.  3. Data for MIU are for discrete units only. Where a MIU forms part of the 24-hour A and E department, the costs and activity are reported as part of the 24-hour A and E department.  4. Data for 24-hour A and E department is the weighted average unit cost for all 24-hour A and E department activity. This includes the cost of patients who are dead on arrival.

Health Services (Cornwall)

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will take steps to ensure that funding for health services in Cornwall better reflects the rurality factor.

Andy Burnham: Revenue allocations are made to primary care trusts (PCTs) on a weighted-capitation formula that directs funding towards areas of greatest need.
	The allocation formula introduced in 2003-04, and used in the 2006-08 allocations, provides the best available measure of health need in all areas. In calculating health need in rural areas it takes account of the effects of access, transport and poverty.
	The Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation (ACRA) continuously oversees the development of the weighted-capitation formula. ACRA is an independent body made up of national health service managers, academics and general practitioners. ACRA has looked at the issue of rurality on many occasions, and its current work programme, post 2007-08, includes looking again at the issues faced by rural areas.

Health Statistics (Thurrock)

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been treated for  (a) diabetes,  (b) cardiac conditions,  (c) obesity and  (d) respiratory conditions in each municipal ward of the borough of Thurrock in the last 12 months.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not held centrally.

Health Statistics (Thurrock)

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which wards in the Borough of Thurrock have single GP practices.

Caroline Flint: Information is not available in the format requested. However, the table shows the location of Single Handed GPs in Thurrock as at 30 September 2005 which is the latest data available.
	
		
			  Single handed GP Partnerships for Thurrock Primary Care Trust, as at 30 September 2005 
			  PCT  Practice Code  AddressPost Code 
			 5GQ Thurrock PCT 
			  F81088 271A Southend Road Stanford-le-Hope Essex SS17 
			  8HD 
			  RM18 
			  F81110 Tilbury Health Centre London Road Tilbury, Essex 8EB 
			  F81197 Sancta Maria Medical Centre Daiglen Drive South Ockendon RM15 
			  5SZ 
			  F81198 The Surgery High Road Horndon-on-the-Hill SS17 
			  8LB 
			  RM18 
			  F81206 4 St. Chads Road Tilbury Essex 8LA 
			  RM17 
			  F81623 The Surgery 167 Bridge Road Grays, Essex 6DB 
			  RM15 
			  F81632 The Health Centre Darenth Lane South Ockendon 5LP 
			  RM17 
			  F81643 Grays Health Centre Brooke Road Grays 5BY 
			  SS17 
			  F81644 Ash Tree Surgery 33 Fobbing Road Corringham 9BG 
			  RM18 
			  F81652 Medic House Ottawa Road Tilbury 7RJ 
			  RM17 
			  F81659 Grays Health Centre Brooke Road Grays, Essex 5BY 
			  RM15 
			  F81669 2 Fortin Path South Ockendon Essex 5NL 
			  RM18 
			  F81691 East Tilbury Health Centre 85 Coronation Avenue East Tilbury 8SW 
			  RM18 
			  F81708 105 Calcutta Road Tilbury Essex 7QA 
			  RM18 
			  F81719 57 Calcutta Road Tilbury Essex 7QZ 
			  RM18 
			  F81734 4 Commonwealth House Montreal Road Tilbury, Essex 7QX 
			  RM15 
			  Y00087 South Ockendon Health Centre Darenth Lane South Ockendon 5LP 
			  Source:  The information centre for health and social care general and personal medical services statistics

Health Statistics (Thurrock)

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans there are to attract additional GPs to Thurrock to provide for  (a) retirements of existing practitioners and  (b) anticipated growth of population in the next decade; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: It is the responsibility of primary care trusts (PCTs) and strategic health authorities to understand the demographic make-up of their general practitioner (GP) workforce and develop plans, in liaison with their local NHS Trusts and primary care providers, to deliver high quality NHS services and take action to ensure that the appropriate number of GPs are recruited, to replace those reaching retirement age.

Health Statistics (Thurrock)

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many GPs there were per thousand population in Thurrock in each of the last 10 years.

Rosie Winterton: The following table shows the general medical practitioners, excluding retainers and registrars per 1,000 head of population, for Thurrock Primary Care Trust, as at 30 September 2001-05. Information is not available prior to 2001.
	
		
			  Number (headcount) 
			2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			 5GQ Thurrock PCT  
			
			  All practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars) 62 62 67 64 72 
			  Population 143,297 144,501 145,274 145,689 145,689 
			  All practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars) per 1,000 head of population 0.43 0.43 0.46 0.44 0.49 
			  Notes: General medical practitioners excluding retainers and registrars, per 1,000 head of population, for Thurrock Primary Care Trust, as at 30 September 2001-05 General Medical Practitioners excluding retainers and registrars includes, contracted GPs, CMS others and PMS others. Prior to September 2004 this group included CMS unrestricted principals, PMS contracted GPs. Mid-year ONS 2005 population figures for PCTs are not yet available, therefore 2004 PCT figures have been used for 2005 organisation calculations, as a result these figures are subject to change.  Source: The Information Centre for health and social care General and Personal Medical Services Statistics, 2001 ONS Population Census

Health Statistics (Thurrock)

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) age profile and  (b) anticipated retirement pattern of GPs in Thurrock is in (i) single doctor practices and (ii) group practices; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The following table shows all practitioners, excluding retainers and registrars in Thurrock PCT, as at 30 September 2005 which is the latest data available.
	
		
			  Number (headcount) 
			   All practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars)  30-34  35-39  40-44  45-49  50-54  55-59  60-64  65-69 
			 All practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars) 72 4 7 5 17 9 15 9 6 
			   
			  Of which:  
			   
			 Working in single handed partnerships 17- (1)— (1)— (1)— 2 1 2 7 5 
			 Working in group partnerships 45 3 4 4 12 8 12 1 1 
			 PCT Employed 10 1 3 1 3 (1)— 1 1 (1)— 
			 (1) Denotes zero  Note:  General medical practitioners excluding retainers and registrars, includes contracted general practitioners, GMS Others and PMS Others.  Source:  The information centre for health and social care general and personal medical services Statistics

Healthcare Provision

Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to extend the direct payments scheme for healthcare provision.

Ivan Lewis: There are no plans to extend the direct payments scheme to healthcare provision.

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence

Dennis Skinner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will agree to a review of the effectiveness of the remit and scope of National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence investigations; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: I have no such plans to undertake a review of the remit and scope of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).
	As part of NICE's normal business, its technology appraisal process and methodology is subject to periodic review which includes a public consultation. NICE's appraisal process was last subject to such a review in 2003-04, and I understand that NICE will be undertaking a further scheduled review next year including a public consultation stage.

NHS Expenditure

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on the NHS in each of the last 30 years in real terms.

Andy Burnham: The following table shows total expenditure on the national health service from 1975-76 to 2005-06 in real terms.
	
		
			  NHS total expenditure, England, 1975-76 to 2005-06 
			£ billion 
			Net NHS expenditure( 1)  Net NHS expenditure real terms( 2) 
			  Cash( 3)
			 1975-76 Outturn 4.413 24.206 
			 1976-77 Outturn 5.032 24.320 
			 1977-78 Outturn 5.555 23.623 
			 1978-79 Outturn 6.273 24.021 
			 1979-80 Outturn 7.447 24.404 
			 1980-81 Outturn 9.700 26.891 
			 1981-82 Outturn 10.854 27.468 
			 1982-83 Outturn 11.819 27.934 
			 1983-84 Outturn 12.494 28.218 
			 1984-85 Outturn 13.407 28.769 
			 1985-86 Outturn 14.176 28.843 
			 1986-87 Outturn 15.173 29.903 
			 1987-88 Outturn 16.668 31.104 
			 1988-89 Outturn 18.420 32.133 
			 1989-90 Outturn 19.855 32.324 
			 1990-91 Outturn 22.326 33.702 
			 1991-92 Outturn 25.353 36.067 
			 1992-93 Outturn 27.968 38.545 
			 1993-94 Outturn 28.942 38.873 
			 1994-95 Outturn 30.590 40.475 
			 1995-96 Outturn 31.985 41.073 
			 1996-97 Outturn 32.997 40.992 
			 1997-98 Outturn 34.664 41.846 
			 1998-99 Outturn 36.608 43.098 
			 1999-2000 Outturn 39.881 46.020 
			 
			  Resource budgeting (RB) stage 1( 4)
			 1999-2000 Outturn 40.201 46.389 
			 2000-01 Outturn 43.932 49.991 
			 2001-02 Outturn 49.021 54.489 
			 2002-03 Outturn 54.042 58.267 
			 
			  RB stage 2( 5, 6, 7)
			 2003-04 Outturn 64.183 67.203 
			 2004-05(8) Outturn 69.306 70.621 
			 2005-06 Estimated outturn 77.847 77.847 
			 (1) Figures are not consistent over the period (1975-76 to 2005-06), therefore it is not appropriate to make comparisons across different periods. (2) Gross domestic product deflator as at 27 September 2006. (3) Expenditure pre 1999-2000 is on a cash basis. (4) Expenditure figures from 1999-2000 to 2002-03 are on a stage 1 resource budgeting basis. (5) Expenditure figures from 2003-04 to 2005-06 are on a stage 2 resource budgeting basis. (6) The resource budgeting stage 2 expenditure figures shown for 2004-05 to 2005-06 are consistent with table 3.4 of the 2006 Departmental Report. (7) Figures from 2003-04 include a technical adjustment for trust depreciation. (8) Includes a technical adjustment in 2004-05 for provisions of £1,497 million.  Note: Total Expenditure includes capital and revenue expenditure.

NHS IT Systems

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the investigation into the NHS IT failure in which systems at hospitals in the West Midlands and North West crashed in July 2006 is expected to report.

Caroline Flint: A root cause analysis has been conducted of the circumstances leading to the power outage at the CSC data storage centre on Sunday 30 July 2006. Extensive details of its findings have been published on the NHS Connecting for Health website at:
	www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/media/data_centre_issue_update4
	NHS Connecting for Health is unique in publishing systems outage data on its website. Local systems failures in the NHS are not unusual.
	On 31 July NHS Connecting for Health commissioned an independent review of the incident and of CSCs disaster recovery arrangements.
	The results of the review will be published in due course.

Northamptonshire Heartlands Primary Care Trust

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was allocated to Northamptonshire Heartlands Primary Care Trust under the capitation formula in each of the last 10 years; how much was made available to the Trust in each year; and what the equivalent figures are estimated to be for 2006-07.

Andy Burnham: The information requested is not available in the format required. Revenue allocations were first made to primary care trusts (PCTs) in 2003-04. Prior to this, allocations were made directly to health authorities on an annual basis. It is therefore not possible to show allocations at PCT level before 2003-04.
	Table 1 shows the 2003-06 revenue allocations made to Northamptonshire Heartlands PCT. Table 2 shows the 2006-08 allocations.
	
		
			  Table 1: 2003-04 to 2005-06 PCT revenue allocations—Northamptonshire Heartlands PCT 
			 2003-04 (£000) 222,223 
			 2004-05 (£000) 244,043 
			 2005-06 (£000) 267,341 
			 Three year increase (£000) 63,605 
			 Three year increase (Percentage) 31.2 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: 2006-07 to 2007-08 PCT revenue allocations—Northamptonshire Heartlands PCT 
			 2006-07 (£000) 336,254 
			 2007-08 (£000) 377,137 
			 Two year increase (£000) 85,615 
			 Two year increase (Percentage) 29.4 
		
	
	The amount made available through parliamentary funding, which represents the cash received for the year from the parliamentary vote, to Northamptonshire Heartlands PCT each year from 2002-03 to 2004-05, which is the latest year currently available, are as follows:
	
		
			  Parliamentary funding amount 
			  £ 
			 2002-03 231,894 
			 2003-04 246,218 
			 2004-05 274,187 
			  Note: These figures are from the audited summarisation schedules.

Parkinson's Disease

Dennis Skinner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what research is being undertaken by her Department into Parkinson's disease; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  how many  (a) men and  (b) women have been (i) diagnosed with and (ii) treated for Parkinson's disease in the last five years.

Ivan Lewis: On 13 September 2005, the Government announced the establishment of a £20 million initiative to speed up the development of new medical treatments for dementia and neurodegenerative disease. The dementias and neurodegenerative disease research network is led by teams from University College London and the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
	A long-term neurological conditions research initiative is being funded from the Department's policy research programme. The aim is to focus on the commonalities between different conditions, in terms of use of services and life events. The work will establish a baseline picture of the quality of existing health and social care services, and of the experience and needs of those using them, against which to assess the implementation of the national service framework for long-term neurological conditions. It will also explore the transitions and dynamics of living with long-term progressive conditions, including transition to adulthood and into the final stages of life. Projects costing just over £1.5 million have been funded, including:
	Defining the palliative care needs of people with late stage Parkinson's disease;
	Multiple system atrophy and progressive supranuclear palsy;
	Needs and experiences of services by individuals with progressive neurological condition and their carers;
	A benchmarking study;
	Integrated services for people with long term neurological conditions; and
	Evaluation of the impact of the national service framework.
	The policy research programme is also putting about £1.7 million into funding a number of other related research projects on telecare systems for managing long-term conditions.
	The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published a guideline on the diagnosis and management of Parkinson's disease in primary and secondary care in June 2006. NICE estimated that there are between four and 20 new cases each year for every 100,000 of the general population, and that between 100 and 180 people in every 100,000 are affected. According to the Parkinson's Disease Society, men are statistically slightly more likely to develop the disease than women.

Primary Care Trusts

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will place in the Library the detailed assumptions and calculations for the 2005-06 recurrent revenue allocations for primary care trusts in  (a) Northumberland Tyne and Wear and  (b) Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Strategic Health Authority.

Andy Burnham: Detailed information about 2005-06 primary care trust (PCT) allocations is provided in the 2003-04 to 2005-06 PCT revenue resource limits exposition book, which is available in the Library and at www.dh.gov.uk/allocations.

Physiotherapy

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many physiotherapist posts within the NHS have been withdrawn in the last two years.

Rosie Winterton: This information is not collected centrally.

Sleep Apnoea

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what advice she has issued to NHS trusts on the treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea, with particular reference to the provision of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure equipment;
	(2)  which NHS trusts do not provide the equipment needed to treat patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnoea; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  what assistance is available to NHS patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnoea whose local NHS trust does not provide Continuous Positive Airway Pressure equipment for treatment.

Ivan Lewis: The national health service funds the clinical knowledge summaries (CKS) service, an up-to-date source of clinical knowledge that can help healthcare professionals—and patients—in managing the common conditions generally seen in primary and first-contact care.
	Guidance includes suggested alternative diagnoses, where appropriate, and the guideline on insomnia therefore recommends that sleep apnoea is considered as a possible cause of poor or disturbed sleep.
	On 24 November 2005 my right hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Wavertree (Jane Kennedy) announced to the House that she had asked the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to consult on the remit and scope of a technology appraisal for continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for sleep apnoea.
	It is for health professionals to commission services from suitable providers of health care for their local population, taking account of current and forecast needs of their populations and in consultation with stakeholders.
	People with obstructive sleep apnoea can benefit from a range of services and clinical advice on, for example, weight loss and the use of tobacco and alcohol, as well as CPAP where necessary.

Surrey Primary Care Trust

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received on  (a) current and  (b) future funding levels for Surrey Primary Care Trust; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: Due to the way data are collected, the Department is unable to provide the number of letters received in relation to current and future funding levels for Surrey Primary Care Trust (PCT)
	Revenue allocations are made to PCTs on the basis of a fair funding formula that directs funding to those areas of greatest need. To ensure equity in resource allocation, the development of the formula is kept under continuous review by the advisory committee on resource allocation (ACRA).

Tuberculosis

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans are in place for rapid and accurate diagnosis and contact tracing for cases of extreme drug-resistant tuberculosis in the UK;
	(2)  if she will issue new guidance to the NHS on diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis in response to the emergence of extreme drug-resistant tuberculosis.

Caroline Flint: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published its clinical guideline on the diagnosis and management of tuberculosis, and measures for its prevention and control, in March 2006.
	The guideline includes specific recommendations on the treatment of all forms of drug resistant tuberculosis, recommendations on diagnosis for cases of suspected tuberculosis infection, and contact tracing for all diagnosed cases of tuberculosis. The NICE guideline also recommends that if a risk assessment suggests a patient has multiple drug resistant (MDR) TB, rapid diagnostic tests should be conducted for antibiotic resistance.
	The NICE clinical guideline is available at:
	http://www.nice.org.uk/paqe.aspx?o=297929

Worthing Hospital

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children were admitted to Worthing hospital paediatric department in each of the last three years.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is only held at Trust level. The following table shows the count of finished admission episodes of paediatric cases for Worthing and Southlands Hospitals National Health Service Trust for 2002-03, 2003-04 and 2004-05
	
		
			   Finished admission episodes 
			 2002-03 4,369 
			 2003-04 4,717 
			 2004-05 5,029 
			  Notes:  Finished admission episodes A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. Specialty Care is needed when analysing hospital episode statistics (HES) data by specialty, or by groups of specialties, such as acute. Trusts have different ways of managing specialties and attributing codes so it is better to analyse by specific diagnoses, operations or other recorded information. Ungrossed data Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data, i.e. the data are ungrossed. Data quality HES are compiled from data sent by over 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts in England. The Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. Whilst this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.   Source: HES, The Information Centre for health and social care.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Prisons

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of measures to prevent prisoners from absconding from open prisons.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Public safety is paramount, and despite the current population pressures I can provide assurance it will not be compromised. The requirement for prisoners to pass a robust and rigorous risk assessment to qualify for open conditions is the most effective way of ensuring this.

Animal Experiments

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with scientific bodies on alterative methods of research to bring about a reduction in the number of primates used in experiments; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ryan: Non-human primates are afforded special protection under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and there are stringent requirements regarding their use for experimental and other scientific purposes. The Act provides that non-human primates can only be used when animals of no other species are suitable for the purposes of the programme specified in the licence, or that it is not practicable to obtain animals of any other species that are suitable for those purposes.
	In addition to discussions with individual users and consideration of advice arising from the broadly-based independent Animal Procedures Committee, within the UK we have an ongoing dialogue with professional bodies, funding bodies, regulators, animal welfare groups, the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) and others to discuss all aspects of replacement, reduction and refinement.
	Internationally we are represented on the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM) Scientific Advisory Board; we have co-sponsored the 4th and 5th World Congress on Alternatives, and are involved in the organisation of the 6th World Congress; and we are represented on the European Standards Organisation (CEN) and the International Standards Organisation (ISO) technical committees concerned with setting the animal welfare standards to be implemented within ISO testing programmes.

Animal Experiments

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the objectives of his Department will be during the review of European Directive 86/609 on animal experimentation.

Joan Ryan: holding answer 30 October 2006
	Our principal objective during the review of European Directive 86/609/EEC on the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes will be to ensure that any revised directive provides for the efficient and effective regulation of animal experimentation that properly balances the protection of animals and the legitimate needs of science and industry.
	More specifically, we will aim to support improvements to the regulation of animal use which focus on key areas where regulation and harmonisation would improve animal welfare; improve scientific outputs; provide a more level playing field within the European Union; and improve the European Union's competitiveness with other economic regions without compromising science and welfare.
	We do not believe that wholesale changes to the directive are necessary to achieve the main benefits sought of harmonisation and animal welfare. In general, we believe that the directive has stood the test of time well and still provides a sound framework for regulation. It has proved flexible enough to adapt to change in many areas and to incorporate technical progress.

Asylum/Immigration

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what targets there are for dealing with applications for a variation of leave to remain in the UK; and what performance against such targets has been in each quarter since 2004.

Liam Byrne: The requested information on targets and performance against them is shown on the Immigration and Nationality Directorate website at:
	www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/6353/11464/servicestandardsjuly.xls

Asylum/Immigration

George Mudie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time taken was to decide on claims for extension of discretionary leave to remain  (a) within the time limit and  (b) outside the time limit in each of the last five years.

Liam Byrne: The requested information is not available and could be obtained only by examination of individual records at a disproportionate cost.
	The Immigration and Nationality Directorate measure progress against their published service standards and these are shown on the Immigration and Nationality Directorate website at:
	www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/6353/11464/servicestandardsjuly.xls

Asylum/Immigration

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigrants of Middle-Eastern origin arrived in the UK in each year since 2000.

Liam Byrne: Statistics on passengers given leave to enter the United Kingdom by purpose of journey, geographical region and nationality are published annually in command papers entitled "Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom". Editions for each year from 2000 to 2005 are available from the Library and via the Home Office website http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html

Asylum/Immigration

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will provide a substantive answer to question 88572 tabled by the right hon. Member for Birkenhead on 20 July 2006, on immigrants from EU accession countries.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 11 September 2006
	I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer given on 17 October 2006,  Official Report, column 1156W.

Chaplain General (Prison Service)

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how often his Department's  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials met the Chaplain General to the Prison Service in each of the last two years; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of each meeting.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 31 October 2006
	Ministers have met with the Chaplain General on two occasions in 2006 and on one occasion in 2005. The Chaplain General is an official within the Home Office and as such meets with other officials on a daily basis. Formal minutes are not necessarily taken at internal meetings and we would not normally make public correspondence flowing from them.

Criminal Justice Act

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many indeterminate sentences have been imposed pursuant to Section 225 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 since the Act was implemented.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Statistics on court sentencing are due to be published in 'Sentencing Statistics 2005', a Home Office statistical bulletin, early in the new year.
	However, data on persons received into custody for indeterminate sentences under section 225 or 226 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 during the period April 2005 to March 2006 will be contained in Home Office statistical bulletin 'Offender Management Caseload Statistics 2005' due for publication in December.

Departmental Expenditure

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent by  (a) his Department,  (b) its agencies and  (c) its non-departmental public bodies in respect of hotel and other similar privately-provided accommodation (i) in the UK and (ii) abroad for (A) Ministers, (B) staff and (C) other persons in each year since 2001-02.

Liam Byrne: To obtain the information requested could only be done at disproportionate cost. However the accommodation and travel costs are conducted in accordance with the requirements of the ministerial code, Travel by Ministers and the civil service management code.
	Information relating to overseas travel by Ministers is published on an annual basis. Information for the period 2 May 1997 to 31 March 2006 is available in the Library. Information for the financial year 2006-07 will be published as soon as it is ready after the end of the current financial year.

Deportation

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convicted offenders were recommended for deportation after sentence in each of the last five years; and how many have subsequently been deported.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 26 October 2006
	The Department does not collate information in the format requested and it could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

Drug Misuse

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department has spent on tackling drug misuse in each of the last 10 years.

Vernon Coaker: Home Office direct investment in reducing the harm caused by illegal drugs is identified in the Departmental Report. Figures for each year since 2001 are set out in the following table.
	These figures do not take account of complementary mainstream funding made available by the Home Office which local partnerships draw upon to support delivery of the drug strategy. They form only one element of total Government direct investment in reducing the harm caused by illegal drugs, which in 2006-07 is over £1.5 billion.
	Changes in the classification of funding in Spending Review 2000 mean that comparison with previous years in not possible.
	
		
			  Home Office Departmental Report 2006: Total public spending for the Home Office on the strategic objective that fewer people's lives are ruined by drugs and alcohol: 
			  Outturn (£000) 
			   Resource  Capital 
			 2000-01 0 0 
			 2001-02 1,825 0 
			 2002-03 80,169 0 
			 2003-04 96,351 0 
			 2004-05 206,904 2,174 
			 2005-06(1) 184,606 1,300 
			 2006-07(2) 209,851 3,300 
			 (1) Estimated outturn. (2) Plan.  Note: Changes in the treatment of budgets within the supplementary estimates between the 2004-05 and the 2005-06 suggest a decrease in resource expenditure recorded in the departmental report. These disguise a year on year increase of £25,086K expenditure on the drug Interventions Programme.

Drug Rehabilitation

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what increase there was in facilities for the treatment for cannabis users between 2002 and 2005.

Caroline Flint: I have been asked to reply.
	We are unable to determine if there was an increase in facilities for those seeking treatment who experience problems associated with the use of cannabis between 2002 and 2005, as drug treatment services are generally designed to meet the needs of a range of substance misusers, rather than for specialised cannabis users.
	However, the percentage change in the number of people entering drug treatment between 2003-04 and 2005-06 where cannabis has been identified as the primary substance of misuse is an increase of 117 per cent. The percentage increase relates to numbers accessing treatment and not increases in the numbers using the drug. These figures in fact suggest that the Government's substantial investment in drug treatment is paying dividends, with quicker access to more effective treatment for drug misusers.

Identity Management Strategy

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish his Department's proposed identity management strategy; and how much he expects will have been spent on the identity cards project prior to publication.

John Reid: We will publish an identity management action plan in the next few months. I will write to the hon. Member with the cost information he has requested after the plan has been published.

Immigration and Nationality Directorate

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 18 October 2006,  Official Report, column 1301W, on the Immigration and Nationality Directorate, what considerations are taken into account in determining whether to grant compensation to applicants for the loss of their documents.

Liam Byrne: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) assesses compensation claims in accordance with guidance contained in the Government Accounting Manual issued by Her Majesty's Treasury, which ensures the proper handling of public money.
	When determining whether to grant compensation for the loss of documents the IND will consider reimbursing the fee for the replacement of a document and any associated costs. Associated costs include the cost of travel or postage to obtain the new document, telephone calls made to inquire about or apply for a new document, subsistence costs on journeys made to enquire about/collect documents, signed affidavits, loss of earnings and passport photographs. Evidence, usually in the form of receipts, is required to support the claim. The IND may exercise discretion in the event that receipts are unavailable. The IND will also consider offering an ex gratia consolatory payment for non-financial loss if this is caused as a direct result of IND maladministration.

Migration Advisory Committee

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 25 October 2006,  Official Report, column 1985, what plans he has to consult on whether the remit of the Migration Advisory Committee should include the implications of migration for  (a) housing,  (b) the environment,  (c) social cohesion and  (d) other matters unrelated to skills; and what the timetable is for such consultation.

Liam Byrne: We will consult widely on the proposed Migration Advisory Committee, including its remit. The consultation will begin shortly, with a view to having Migration Advisory Committee membership in place by April 2007.

Motoring Offences

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were prosecuted for using their mobile phones while driving in 2005-06.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Available information taken from the Court Proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform for the year 2004 (latest available) is given in the table. As the majority of 'use of hand held mobile phone while driving' offences are dealt with by the issue of a fixed penalty notice these are also included.
	2005 data will be available early in 2007.
	
		
			  Fixed penalty notices issued( 1)  and total court proceedings for the offence of use of hand held mobile phone while driving( 2)  by police force area, England and Wales, 2004 
			  Number of offences 
			  Police force area  Fixed penalty notices issued( 1)  Total court proceedings( 3)  Total dealt with 
			 Avon and Somerset 1,902 19 1,921 
			 Bedfordshire 579 5 584 
			 Cambridgeshire 219 7 226 
			 Cheshire 2,689 2 2,691 
			 Cleveland 1,066 4 1,070 
			 Cumbria 528 24 552 
			 Derbyshire 978 17 995 
			 Devon and Cornwall 796 19 815 
			 Dorset 521 0 521 
			 Durham 504 1 505 
			 Essex 2,431 28 2,459 
			 Gloucestershire 632 1 633 
			 Greater Manchester 8,166 73 8,239 
			 Hampshire 2,032 18 2,050 
			 Hertfordshire 2,526 6 2,532 
			 Humberside 381 4 385 
			 Kent 1,707 0 1,707 
			 Lancashire 1,719 17 1,736 
			 Leicestershire 759 12 771 
			 Lincolnshire 1,529 9 1,538 
			 London, City of 137 7 144 
			 Merseyside 1,836 22 1,858 
			 Metropolitan Police 13,581 203 13,784 
			 Norfolk 887 20 907 
			 Northamptonshire 297 0 297 
			 Northumbria 1,271 32 1,303 
			 North Yorkshire 720 18 738 
			 Nottinghamshire 653 8 661 
			 South Yorkshire 1,978 12 1,990 
			 Staffordshire 264 11 275 
			 Suffolk 978 7 985 
			 Surrey 2,213 9 2,222 
			 Sussex 546 1 547 
			 Thames Valley 3,716 24 3,740 
			 Warwickshire 621 7 628 
			 West Mercia 2,200 17 2,217 
			 West Midlands 3,864 61 3,925 
			 West Yorkshire 2,368 11 2,379 
			 Wiltshire 700 21 721 
			 Dyfed Powys 363 13 376 
			 Gwent 517 0 517 
			 North Wales 999 3 1,002 
			 South Wales 1,603 16 1,619 
			 England and Wales 73,976 789 74,765 
			 (1) Paid i.e. no further action. (2) Offences under the Road Vehicles (Construction & Use) Regulations 1986, Regulations 110 (1), 110 (2) and 110 (3). (3) Includes cases where fixed penalty notices were originally issued but not paid and subsequently referred to court.  Note: Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when these data are used.

Police

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the  (a) legislation and  (b) statutory instruments which regulate police discipline; what changes have been made to each since their enactment; what further amendments are planned; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: The information is as follows:
	 Primary legislation
	(a) Police Act 1996 (1996 c.16) as amended by the Police and Criminal Justice Act 2001 and the Greater London Authority Act 1999
	(b) Police Reform Act 2002 (2002 c.30) as amended by the Serious and Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (main amendments relate to the introduction of the Serious Organised Crime Agency and the introduction of a new category of matter to be referred to the IPCC (alongside complaints and conduct matters) namely a death or serious injury matter. NB The amendments to secondary legislation are also largely consequential on these provisions.)
	 Secondary legislation
	(a) Police (Conduct) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/645) as amended by the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (Consequential and Supplementary Amendments to Secondary Legislation) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/594)
	(b) Police (Complaints and Misconduct) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/643) as amended by the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (Powers of Arrest) (Consequential Amendments) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/3389), the Police (Complaints and Misconduct) Regulations (Amendment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1406) and S.I. 2006/594 (see aforementioned for title)
	(c) Police Appeals Tribunal Rules 1999 (S.I. 1999/818) as amended by S.I. 2006/594 (see aforementioned for title)
	(d) Independent Police Complaints Commission (Transitional Provisions) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/671)
	Work is currently in progress to reform the police disciplinary system. Any changes made will be regulated by legislation.

Prisoners (Food Allowance)

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost is of the daily food allowance for prisoners in  (a) prison cells and  (b) police station cells; and when they were last increased.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 31 October 2006
	There is no daily set allowance for prisoners' food. Governors are required to ensure that prisoners are provided with sufficient nutritional food. The average cost per prisoner per day over the year 2005-06 for public sector prisons in England and Wales was £1.93 (up 3.2 per cent. on the previous year). In the same period the average cost for establishments operated by the contracted sector ranged from £2.10 to £3.07.
	For prisoners held in police cells as part of Operation Safeguard, there is no daily food allowance. There is a recently agreed allowance of up to £12 per prisoner per night to cover the full cost of providing meals.

Public Order Act

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what monitoring his Department is undertaking of the extent to which section 5 of the Public Order Act is being applied consistently to religious communities by the police and the Crown Prosecution Service.

Vernon Coaker: None. It is for the police and prosecuting authorities to decide whether an offence may have been committed in each individual case.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Education Unit

David Amess: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what steps have been taken since June 2006 to expand the Education Unit's activities; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: The Parliamentary Education Unit has expanded its services to schools and young people in a number of areas since the summer. The main developments are as follows:
	The unit's outreach officers are implementing their plan to establish working relationships with all LEAs by the end of 2007-08. Between January and September 2006 35 LEAs were visited. Where possible, corresponding constituency offices were also visited.
	The unit has adopted a more varied and flexible programme of visits for young people and schools for the academic year 2006-07. These are designed to integrate with classroom work before and after the visit, and focus specifically on the work of Parliament. This new programme will double the number of young people who are able to participate in educational visits.
	A new set of parliamentary educational films, entitled 'You've Got the Power', have been produced for primary and secondary schools. These films are supported by teacher and student workbooks, which are linked to the learning outcomes for the citizenship strand of the national curriculum. Packs containing the films and workbooks are available free on request to schools, with over 10,500 copies requested by teachers between July and September 2006.
	New activities for students, with lesson plans for teachers, have been made available on the educational website, 'Explore Parliament', covering topics such as the importance of rules/laws, how legislation is passed, and the work of MPs.
	The unit is working with the Hansard Society to produce a revised version of their 'MPs in Schools' pack and a new accompanying website in 2007, along with a series of workshops for Members and their staff to explore what more can be done to engage with young constituents.
	The unit is organising a conference in November 2006 to share best practice for education staff from other parliaments and assemblies.

Scrutiny Unit

David Amess: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how many people were employed by the Scrutiny Unit, in each year since its inception broken down by  (a) age,  (b) sex and  (c) grade; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: The Scrutiny Unit was set up in the autumn of 2002 and did not reach full strength till late 2003. The unit comprises a mixture of permanent staff and people recruited from outside, either on secondment or on short-term contracts. Information on staffing is set out in the following tables. Information about age is summarised in broad age bands to protect the privacy of the individuals.
	
		
			  Individual staff by sex and pay band 
			   Male  Female  Total 
			  October 2006
			 SCS Band 1 1 0 1 
			 Band A 3 4 7 
			 Band B 0 4 4 
			 Band C 1 3 4 
			 Band D 1 0 1 
			 Total 6 11 17 
			 
			  November 2005
			 SCS Band 1 1 0 1 
			 Band A 1 7 8 
			 Band B 0 2 2 
			 Band C 0 1 1 
			 Band D 1 0 1 
			 Total 3 10 13 
			 
			  November 2004
			 SCS Band 1 1 0 1 
			 Band A 2 1 3 
			 Band B 4 6 10 
			 Band C 0 2 2 
			 Band D 1 0 1 
			 Total 8 9 17 
			 
			  November 2003
			 SCS Band 1 1 1 2 
			 Band A 2 1 3 
			 Band B 2 3 5 
			 Band C 0 3 3 
			 Band D 1 0 1 
			 Total 6 8 14 
		
	
	
		
			  Age Ranges 
			   October 2006  November 2005  November 2004  November 2003 
			 20-29 4 3 6 5 
			 30-39 9 5 6 5 
			 40-49 2 3 3 3 
			 50-59 0 1 2 1 
			 60-65 1 0 0 0 
			 Unknown 1 1 0 0 
			 Total 17 13 17 14

Scrutiny Unit

David Amess: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if he will list the  (a) projects undertaken and  (b) reports issued by the Scrutiny Unit in each Session since the Unit's inception; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: Major projects undertaken by the Scrutiny Unit in each session from 2002-03 to date (except where a particular session is indicated) have included:
	Staffing of joint committees on draft bills (draft Civil Contingencies, Corruption and Mental Incapacity Bills 2002-03; draft Charities, Disability Discrimination, Gambling and Mental Health Bills 2003-04; draft Children (Contact) and Adoption Bill 2004-05; draft Legal Services Bill 2005-06).
	Assisting select committees and the Joint Committee on Human Rights with the scrutiny of draft bills and associated Regulatory Impact Assessments (draft Electricity (Trading and Transmission), Gender Recognition and Housing Bills 2002-03; draft Animal Welfare, Criminal Defence Service, Regional Assemblies and School Transport Bills 2003-04; draft Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill 2004-05; draft Corporate Manslaughter and Coroners Bills 2005-06).
	Assisting all departmental select committees with scrutiny of Departmental Reports, Estimates and Supplementary Estimates and resource accounts, and advising on best practice on content of Departmental Reports and Estimates Memoranda.
	Assisting select committees and the Joint Committee on Human Rights with committee inquiries (the work ranging from contributions to briefing to the carrying out of whole inquiries).
	Supporting the Parliamentary Observer on the Financial Reporting Advisory Board (FRAB).
	Conducting an inquiry into the financial and performance management of the Electoral Commission for the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission (session 2005-06).
	Provision of training to Members, their staff and staff of both Houses on topics such as Estimates, Resource Accounts, Departmental Reports and Handling Statistics.
	Scrutiny of draft bills sometimes continues from one session to another; the sessions given here are when scrutiny began.
	The work undertaken by the Scrutiny Unit from its inception in November 2002 to the end of 2004 is described in appendices to the Liaison Committee's annual reports:
	First Report, 2003-04, HC 446, Appendix 3
	(http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmselect/cmliaisn/446/44613.htm);
	First Report, 2004-05, HC 419, Appendix 4
	(http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmselect/cmliaisn/419/41914.htm
	I am placing in the Library a full list of tasks carried out from the unit's inception to date.
	The unit does not issue reports. However, a paper by the unit reviewing departmental reports for 2005 was reported to the House by the Liaison Committee on 12 May 2006 and is on the Liaison Committee's website:
	http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmselect/cmliaisn/review/revo2.htm.
	Further information can be found on the Scrutiny Unit's own website:
	http://www. parliament.uk/about_commons/scrutinyunit.cfm.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made by provincial reconstruction teams in Afghanistan in building  (a) police stations,  (b) roads,  (c) bridges and  (d) women's centres.

Hilary Benn: The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) estimate that the total amount of funding committed by Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) in Afghanistan, is $80,190,000 since 2004. They estimate that 61 per cent. of this expenditure has been spent, with the remaining planned, ongoing or identified. ISAF collect this information from reports from the 24 PRTs across the country, and warn that these data may not be completely accurate.
	The PRTs report to ISAF based on the pillars of the Afghanistan National Development Strategy: Agriculture, Education, Good Governance, Health, Infrastructure and Natural Resources, Private Sector Development, Security, and Social Protection. ISAF are able to provide financial expenditure data by pillar but not able to provide information on specific areas. For example (i) the expenditure since 2004 on Infrastructure and Natural Resources is estimated as a total of US $31,332,000 which will include roads and bridges; (ii) expenditure on Security, which will include building and refurbishments of police stations is estimated to be US $4,443,000; (iii) expenditure on social protection, which will include Women's Centres, is estimated to be US $7,059,000.
	Further detailed information on PRT progress in these areas is not available at this time.

Afghanistan

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the total value of funds expended by provincial reconstruction teams in Afghanistan on development and reconstruction projects was in each quarter since 2004.

Hilary Benn: The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) estimates that the total amount of funding committed by Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) in Afghanistan is $80,190,000 since 2004. They estimate that 61 per cent. of this funding has been spent, with the remaining planned, ongoing or identified. ISAF collect this information from reports from the 24 PRTs across the country, and warn that these data may not be completely accurate.
	ISAF are not currently able to break down this expenditure by quarter.

Afghanistan

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much has been allocated by the Department to  (a) the Asian Development Bank and  (b) USAID for reconstruction projects in Afghanistan.

Hilary Benn: DFID has given the Asian Development Bank (ADB) £300,000 for a 12 month Rural Land Administration project to pilot land ownership initiatives in two provinces—Herat and Takhar. The project started in June 2006. DFID also makes an annual core contribution of £28.5 million to the ADB, which in turn allocates 9 per cent. of its financing to Afghanistan. This implies we allocate £2.6 million a year to Afghanistan through our central financing of the ADB.
	DFID has not allocated any money to USAID for projects in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much has been allocated by his Department  (a) directly and  (b) indirectly to the funding of road reconstruction projects in Afghanistan.

Hilary Benn: DFID gave the National Rural Access Programme (NRAP) £18 million in 2005-06 to help provide access to infrastructure. This will help construct 185 km of road and rehabilitate 3,500 km of existing roads. While this work is still ongoing, we do not have immediate plans for additional allocations. In addition to this funding DFID has also allocated £8.5 million to NRAP to focus specifically on Helmand. This financing has been made available through DFID's Helmand Agricultural and Rural Development Programme and will finance 49 km of road construction to begin in March 2007. DFID also provides core funding to multilateral development banks such as the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank, who have together spent $480 million on roads around the country.

Afghanistan

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made on the Kandahar to Herat highway in Afghanistan; what the estimated completion date is; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: Construction work for the Kandahar to Herat highway is 80 per cent. complete. The remaining section has been put on hold due to security concerns.
	USAID, Saudi Arabia and Japan funded the construction of this road, dividing the construction into their own segments. Construction work started in 2003. USAID provided $163 million for a 326 km section form Herat to Dilaram which is now complete. Saudi Arabia has committed $51 million for a 116 km section from Dilaram to Garishk. Japan has provided $76 million for a 114 km section from Garishk to Kandahar. There are concerns over security in this area and for the time being, construction work has been put on hold until the situation improves.

Afghanistan

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with USAID officials on the introduction of a toll system on the Kabul to Kandahar highway.

Hilary Benn: DFID staff have not had any discussions with USAID officials over the tolls in place on the Kabul to Kandahar highway. Consultants working for DFID in the Ministry of Finance have had discussions with the US military on the scheme for security purposes. One outcome of these discussions was that the US military donated materials for a public awareness campaign for the toll scheme.

Afghanistan

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department's policy is on the implementation of road taxes as a means of developing the Afghan economy.

Hilary Benn: Government revenues in Afghanistan are among the lowest in the world. Last year revenues totalled just $500 million. This represents under $20 per head or 5.5 per cent. of GDP, less than half the average for other low income countries. The need to provide essential services, coupled with the massive cost of rebuilding Afghanistan after more than two decades of conflict, makes raising domestic revenues one of the highest priorities of the Government of Afghanistan. DFID supports the Government's revenue raising efforts through a three-year £6.5 million technical assistance project in the tax department. DFID does not have a specific policy on road taxes but supports the Government's attempts to diversify revenue sources and increase collection rates.
	The introduction of road tolls is one of a number of new initiatives that the Government have put in place in recent years to meet this challenge. The road toll scheme is only small at present (it is estimated to raise around $7 million in the current fiscal year), but it does have the potential to make a more sizable contribution over time. Other, more significant reforms that are making immediate contributions to meet this challenge include the establishment of a large taxpayers office, improvements in income tax collection and customs tariff rationalisation.

Afghanistan

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department's policy is on the treatment of Afghan construction workers on projects funded or part-funded by the UK.

Hilary Benn: DFID expects that all workers will be treated within the bounds of Afghanistan constitutional human rights principles and national legislation. Afghanistan's Labour Law, 1987, provides for a 40 hour work week, and equal employment opportunities for women. Child labour is officially prohibited in Afghanistan. Articles 48 and 49 of the constitution outline the right to work, to regulated hours, and to paid holidays. Afghan workers are free to join trade unions.

Afghanistan

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will estimate the average salary in  (a) Afghanistan and  (b) Kabul; and what estimate he has made of the proportion of earnings the potential monthly road toll represents for users of the Kabul to Kandahar highway.

Hilary Benn: The average annual income in Afghanistan is approximately $300 but most people do not receive formal salaries. The income of those on salaries is and specifically those using the Kabul to Kandahar highway is likely to be much higher. The average pay for a civil servant in Kabul is around $100 a month and the average in the private sector and in aid agencies is significantly higher. For instance average pay for a junior manager in the private sector or local NGO is around $400 a month, or double that in an international NGO.
	The tolls for the use of the four roads in the scheme are in the following table:
	
		
			   Monthly  Quarterly 
			 Passenger vehicle 200 Afs ($4) 500 Afs ($10) 
			 Light commercial vehicle 1000 Afs ($20) 2500 Afs ($50) 
			 Light commercial vehicle 3000 Afs ($60) 12000 Afs ($240) 
		
	
	From these rates the monthly fee for using the toll roads would be approximately 1 per cent. the income of a junior manager in a local firm. However, it should be pointed out that the vast majority of users of these roads are taxis, high income users or commercial vehicles. For these users the toll would be spread amongst many people or a lesser share of personal income.

Afghanistan

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of the money collected in toll payments for the use of the Kabul to Kandahar highway will go to  (a) road maintenance,  (b) the USA and  (c) other donor states.

Hilary Benn: The money raised from the road toll scheme is not earmarked for any specific purposes but rather contributes to the Government of Afghanistan's core budget spending. In last year's budget, spending on development was 63 per cent. of total expenditures with security and governance at 30 per cent. and 7 per cent. respectively. Within development spending the largest areas of expenditure were agriculture and rural development at 21 per cent. and infrastructure and natural resources at 14 per cent.
	None of the money raised will go directly to the USA or other donor states. However, the scheme does rely on the use of stickers which are purchased from a German firm. Two years supply of anti-counterfeit stickers cost $450,000, around 2.5 per cent. of the scheme's expected returns over the same period. The German firm won the contract after a tendering process consistent with the Government of Afghanistan Procurement Law.

Afghanistan

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will provide a breakdown of how the $30 million generated in toll payments per annum for the use of the Kabul to Kandahar highway has been allocated in Afghanistan.

Hilary Benn: In the first four months of operation the road toll scheme has raised a total of $1.4 million. Current estimates are that this will reach $6.9 million for the 2006-07 budget year. Road users purchase a sticker that covers the use of four major roads around Kabul. This makes it difficult to calculate the precise share of the total attributable to the use of the Kabul—Kandahar road. Roughly 15 per cent. of the sales come from vendors working on that route but there also are likely to be users purchasing stickers in central Kabul and other locations.
	The money raised from the road toll scheme is not earmarked for any specific purposes but rather contributes to the Government of Afghanistan's core budget spending. In last year's budget, spending on development was 63 per cent. of total expenditures with security and governance at 30 per cent. and 7 per cent. respectively. Within development spending the largest areas of expenditure were agriculture and rural development at 21 per cent. and infrastructure and natural resources at 14 per cent.

Afghanistan

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether UK funds will be spent on the construction of the American University of Afghanistan.

Hilary Benn: The UK has not provided any funds for the construction of the American University of Afghanistan.
	The Government of Afghanistan has donated land worth an estimated $28 million. The US Government has contributed $17.7 million and private sector organisations, such as the Bayat Foundation have pledged a further $6 million. DFID has not provided resources. DFID's programme in Afghanistan is instead targeted on three areas: building effective state institutions; improving economic management and improving the livelihoods of rural people.

Afghanistan

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department's policy is on the tender process for contracts for Afghan reconstruction projects.

Hilary Benn: DFID tenders a limited number of reconstruction projects in Afghanistan directly, preferring to provide direct support to the Government of Afghanistan, thereby strengthening its own systems. Where a tender is undertaken by the Government of Afghanistan, we expect the Government to follow Afghanistan's Procurement Law, 2005. DFID-Afghanistan's support to the Ministry of Finance Budget Department includes technical advice for improving compliance in Afghan government expenditure.
	Where DFID does directly procure goods and services, and contracts are expected to cost more than £100,000, these must be issued by using the contract processes set out in Her Majesty's Government's public procurement regulations (derived from the European Union (EU) Procurement Directives). The purpose of the Directives is to open public procurement markets to international competition thereby increasing opportunities for all suppliers and service-providers. This reinforces HMG policy on value for money through fair, open and transparent competition.
	For contracts below £100,000 procurement must represent value for money which is usually best achieved through competition. However, where competition for lower value contracting is likely to involve disproportionate cost, suppliers may be 'single sourced', with contracts awarded without competition.

Afghanistan

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when the Kabul to Kandahar toll road payment system began; and how much revenue has been collected since inception.

Hilary Benn: The Government of Afghanistan introduced a road toll scheme on four major highways in July this year. In the first four months of operation the road toll scheme has raised a total of $1.4 million. Current estimates are that this will reach $6.9million for the 2006-07 budget year. Road users purchase a sticker that covers the use of four major roads around Kabul. This makes it difficult: to calculate the precise share of the total attributable to the use of the Kabul—Kandahar road. Roughly 15 per cent. of the sales come from vendors working on that route but there also are likely to be users purchasing stickers in central Kabul and other locations. The money raised from the road toll scheme is not earmarked for any specific purposes but rather contributes to the Government of Afghanistan's core budget spending.

Afghanistan

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate has been made of the number of brothels operating in Kabul; and what work has been carried out by his Department to curtail the growth of the sex trade in Afghanistan.

Hilary Benn: DFID has not made any assessment of the number of brothels operating in Kabul, nor has it carried out any work specifically to curtail the growth of the sex trade in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made in the establishment of a sustainable data collection mechanism on alternative livelihoods activities and investments in Afghanistan in accordance with United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime recommendations; and what the role of the UK is in the project.

Hilary Benn: The database was first established in 2005 by United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC). DFID worked closely with UNODC on the design phase. Upon release of the July 2005 report, DFID asked UNODC to embed the database in the Ministry of Counter Narcotics (MCN), as part of its co-ordinating and monitoring role. The British embassy drugs team provided guidance on the required information fields and DFID worked closely with UNODC and MCN on the design of the questionnaire proforma. This is distributed quarterly by MCN to all donors, including DFID, to collect data on alternative livelihoods programmes for the database.

Afghanistan

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what his assessment is of the principal factors leading to the reduction of opium poppy cultivation in  (a) Balkh and  (b) Farah provinces in Afghanistan in 2006;
	(2)  what his assessment is of the principal factors leading to the increases in poppy cultivation in  (a) Uruzgan,  (b) Badakshan,  (c) Day Kundi and  (d) Nangarhar provinces in Afghanistan in 2006.

Kim Howells: I have been asked to reply.
	We assess that the principal factors leading to the increases in cultivation in Uruzgan, Badakshan and Day Kundi are insecurity, poor governance and lack of development. Although cultivation has also risen in Nangarhar, it remains at negligible levels across much of the province for the second consecutive year. This is a precedent in Afghanistan. Where cultivation has increased in Nangarhar it has been largely limited to the more remote areas where the shift to legal livelihoods is constrained by insecurity and limited access to land, water and markets. In Balkh, better security, governance and an effective eradication campaign all contributed to a reduction in cultivation. In Farah we assess that drought had an impact on cultivation levels.

Afghanistan

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many of his Department's staff were originally dispatched to Helmand Province when British forces were deployed there; and how many staff are stationed in  (a) Helmand Province and  (b) Kandahar Province.

Hilary Benn: As part of the original UK Joint Plan for Helmand, DFID deployed one development adviser to work alongside other UK Government Departments in Helmand.
	Currently there is one DFID staff member working in the provincial reconstruction team, providing cover for the PCRU quick impact project manager. We anticipate redeploying the development adviser to Helmand when he returns from leave later this week, subject to appropriate security arrangements.
	Currently, there are no DFID staff deployed in Kandahar Province.

Afghanistan

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what work his Department has carried out in Helmand Province since British troops were deployed there; and what the outcomes from this work have been.

Hilary Benn: In Helmand, DFID is funding £30 million Helmand Agriculture and Rural Development Programme. This programme aims to increase economic opportunities for the rural poor of Helmand by supporting the Government of Afghanistan in the implementation of existing successful National Programmes in Helmand. Preliminary tasks have been undertaken: i.e. sites for road and well building have been identified; engineering surveys conducted; and the Government procurement process started. This programme will construct 200 wells in and around Lashkar Gah city by end March 2007, and 49 km of road will be under construction by then. Should the security situation allow, we also expect to build a further 490 wells in four districts in central Helmand by end March 2007. In the longer term, these programmes will provide improved water and sanitation, essential small-scale rural infrastructure, greater access to small loans, improved roads and access to markets and agricultural inputs and training to the people of Helmand.
	Through the £3 million DFID-funded Research into Alternative Livelihoods Fund (RALF), the Restorative Agriculture and Rural Economy Research Project, implemented by Mercy Corps, in Helmand, is working on the feasibility of exporting grapes, tomatoes, mushrooms, eggplants and okra, and has made strong contacts with raisin importers (organic and fair-trade). The programme is evaluating at least 10 different small-scale agri-processing industries, and producing case studies of enterprises that prove to have value added, for example tomato paste.
	DFID has committed £4 million to the UK Global Conflict Prevention Pool (GCPP) funding allocation of £6.5 million for the delivery of quick impact projects (QIPS) in Helmand to get short-term development results and help build a platform for longer-term activities. From the total allocation, half has been committed and all will be spent by March 2007. To date, nearly 50 such projects have been funded and implemented. These funds have provided humanitarian assistance to victims of the drought, constructed permanent vehicle checkpoints to improve security, improved security around the shrine in Gereshk, reinforced the river bank walls and provided flood defences for the Bowlan bridge. A full list of UK funded QIPs under the four broad sub-headings (Reconstruction and Development, Security, Governance and Counter Narcotics) is as follows as supporting documentation.
	
		
			  Supporting documentation: summary of UK funded quick impact projects in Helmand Province 
			  Project  Value (USD) 
			  Reconstruction and Development  
			 Sayed Tajdar Shrine: Wall and gate construction 21,224 
			 Sayed Tajdar Shrine: Road and footpath construction 3,076 
			 Improvement of Friday Market and Gabion wall 140,623 
			 Improvement of Friday Market (Cha-i-Anjeer) 24,950 
			 Emergency food distribution 3,400 
			 Gabion Extension 34,108 
			 Support to Office of the Governor to respond to needs of Internally Displaced People 60,000 
			 Support to Radio Stations 150,000 
			 Weir on Helmand River 153,147 
			 Silt removal from Helmand River 259,479 
			 Extension of Gabion walls on Helmand River 168,045 
			 Ulema Shura Ramadan Food 6,867 
			 Lashkar Gar Hospital Mortuary 50,000 
			 Bost Hospital Generator 60,000 
			 Womens Centre improvements 30,000 
			 Kartelegan and Toortank day care centres 80,000 
			 Ulema Shura Eid Support 1,900 
			 Womens Centre ISAF badges 750 
			   
			  Security  
			 Permanent Vehicle Checkpoints (PVCPs) 21,387 
			 Afghan National Police Outposts 480,000 
			 Afghan National Army Platoon House 45,000 
			 Afghan National Army Outposts 158,756 
			 4 Permanent Vehicle Checkpoints (PVCPs) 155,000 
			 4 Enhanced Permanent Vehicle Checkpoints (PVCPs) 110,000 
			 12 Permanent Vehicle Checkpoints (PVCPs) for Geresk 600,000 
			 New PSCC 150,000 
			   
			  Governance  
			 Media Training 486,900 
			 Radio Transmitter 122,400 
			 Helmand Governor—Armoured Car 126,684 
			 3,000 uniforms for 1,500 police 30,000 
			 GPS for the chief of police 150 
			 ID card making facility (ANP) 25,000 
			 Generators for the Governor 170,000 
			 Wall for the office of the prosecutor 10,000 
			 Support to the Office of the Governor 35,000 
			 Tribal Liaison Office, District Reports 155,708 
			 Rehabilitate Printing Press 45,000 
			   
			  Counter Narcotics  
			 Windmill Wells 10,640 
			 Vehicles for Counter Narcotics Police Authority 72,080 
			 Counter-narcotics PI campaign 279,939 
			 Communications equipment for the Counter Narcotics Police Afghanistan 10,000 
			 PA Systems for 12 District Centres 3,000 
			 Counter Narcotics Tractor Repairs 12,000 
			 Counter Narcotics Tractor Ploughs 30,000 
			 Total 4,592,213

Afghanistan

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what work has been carried out by non-governmental organisations in Helmand province in 2006; and how many are operating in Helmand province.

Hilary Benn: There is no central database of all work carried out by local and international NGOs in Helmand. We do also not know for certain how many NGOs are operating in Helmand.
	In 2006 DFID has provided support through Quick Impact Project (QIPs) to HAFO (Helping Afghan Farmers Organisation) and WADAN (Welfare and Development of Afghans Network). The following table as supporting documentation outlines the work that HAFO and WADAN have, or are in the process of undertaking in Helmand.
	The £3 million DFID-funded research into Alternative Livelihoods Fund (RALF), the Restorative Agriculture and Rural Economy Research Project, implemented by Mercy Corps., is working in Helmand on the feasibility of exporting grapes, tomatoes, mushrooms, eggplants and okra, and has made strong contacts with raisin importers (organic and fair-trade).
	Through the Government of Afghanistan's National Programmes which we support, the Government provide additional support to NGOs as facilitating partners, including BRAC and Mercy Corps.
	
		
			  UK direct support to NGOs in Helmand province, Reconstruction and Development 
			  Project  Value (USD)  Total spend to date (USD)  Partner organisation 
			 Sayed Tajdar Shrine: wall and gate construction 21,224 21,224 HAFO 
			 Sayed Tajdar Shrine: road and footpath construction 33,076 33,076 HAFO 
			 Improvement of Friday Market and Gabion wall 140,623 140,623 HAFO 
			 Improvement of Friday Market (Cha-i-Anjeer) 24,950 24,950 HAFO 
			 Gabion Extension 34,108 34,108 HAFO 
			 Weir on Helmand River 153,147 50,000 HAFO 
			 Silt removal from Helmand River 259,479 100,000 HAFO 
			 Extension of Gabion walls on Helmand River 168,045 50,000 HAFO 
			 Counter-narcotics PI campaign 279,939 175,000 WADAN

Afghanistan

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the correlation between input of alternative livelihoods funding to the priority provinces identified in the Afghan Government's alternative livelihoods implementation plan and the production of opium in those provinces.

Hilary Benn: The UK has been helping the Government of Afghanistan prepare an alternative livelihoods plan to help deliver the updated National Drug Control Strategy. The plan has seven work areas, focussing on particular provinces with a high level of opium production as well as those with a high level of vulnerability to opium poppy cultivation. The plan has been recently endorsed by the Minister for Counter Narcotics and the Cabinet Sub-Committee.
	There is currently no effective system in place for measuring the impact of alternative livelihood programmes on poppy cultivation in the priority provinces. DFID is helping the Afghan Government address this problem by undertaking a repeat survey in three of the priority provinces, starting in 2007. The results will be known after the first survey is undertaken in March 2007.
	However we do know from the 2006 UNODC opium survey, that alternative livelihoods alone are not enough. Where there is access to governance, security and development, reductions in cultivation achieved last year have been sustained and in some cases fallen.

Afghanistan

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much was paid in cash for development purposes in the Helmand province in 2006; and who the recipients were.

Hilary Benn: DFID has committed £4 million this financial year to the UK Global Conflict Prevention Pool (GCPP) funding allocation of £6.5 million for the delivery of Quick Impact Projects (QIPS) in Helmand. The purpose of QIPs is to get short-term development results and help build a platform for longer-term activities. The total paid out in cash to date is US$ 2,872,068 (£1.6 million) out of US$ 4,946,302 (£2.7 million) committed so far.
	These funds have provided humanitarian assistance to victims of the drought, constructed permanent vehicle checkpoints to improve security, improved security around the shrine in Gereshk, reinforced the river bank walls and provided flood defences for the Bowlan Bridge. A full list of UK funded QIPs under the four broad sub-headings (Reconstruction and Development, Security, Governance, and Counter Narcotics) is attached as supporting documentation, showing recipient organisations.
	
		
			  Development Funds spent in Helmand 
			  Project  Value (USD)  Total spent to date (USD)  Partner organisation 
			  Reconstruction and Development
			 Sayed Tajdar Shrine: Wall and gate construction 21,224 21,224 HAFO 
			 Sayed Tajdar Shrine: Road and footpath construction 33,076 33,076 HAFO 
			 Improvement of Friday Market and Gabion wall 140,623 140,623 HAFO 
			 Improvement of Friday Market (Cha-i-Anjeer) 24,950 24,950 HAFO 
			 Emergency food distribution 3,400 3,400 AFC 
			 Gabion Extension 34,108 34,108 HAFO 
			 Support to Office of the Governor to respond to needs of internally displaced people 60,000 60,000 Office of the Governor 
			 Support to radio stations 150,000 — Local radio station 
			 Weir on Helmand River 153,147 50,000 HAFO 
			 Silt removal from Helmand River 259,479 100,000 HAFO 
			 Extension of Gabion walls on Helmand River 168,045 50,000 HAFO 
			 Ulema Shura Ramadan Food 6,867 — UKPRT 
			 Lashkar Gar hospital mortuary 60,000 20,400 GEG 
			 Bost hospital generator 60,000 47,640 GEG 
			 Women's Centre improvements 30,000 — To be decided 
			 Kartelegan and Toortank day care centres 80,000 — HCC 
			 Ulema Shura Eid Support 1,900 1,900 Office of the Governor 
			 Women's Centre ISAF badges 750 — Women's centre 
			 Protection of Nahrisiraj canal 12,000 12,000 Office of the Governor 
			  Security
			 Permanent vehicle check points (PVCPs) 21,387 21,387 MRO 
			 Afghan national police outposts 480,000 306,193 PCC and ARDA 
			 Afghan national army platoon house 45,000 24,374 MWCC 
			 Afghan national army outposts 158,756 — NACC 
			 4 Permanent vehicle check points (PVCPs) 155,000 — MRO 
			 4 Enhanced permanent vehicle check points (PVCPs) 110,000 — MRO 
			 12 permanent vehicle check points (PVCPs) for Geresk 600,000 600,000 CADJ—built by REs 
			 New PSCC 150,000 150,000 SPKCC 
			 2 PVCPs in Lashkar Gah 16,800 16,800 Office of the Governor 
			 Infrastructure works at USPI compound 5,265 5,265 MWCC 
			 Sustainable lighting equipment for Afghan national police 1,000 — To be decided 
			 Provision of basic engineering tools for Afghan national police 1,000 — To be decided 
			 Provision of security infrastructure for Governors office and Bost Hotel 200,000 — To be decided 
			  Governance
			 Media training 486,900 378,000 Institute for war and peace reporting 
			 Radio transmitter 122,400 122,400 BBCWS 
			 Helmand Governor-armoured Car 126,684 126,684 Conrico Internatinal Ltd 
			 3,000 uniforms for 1,500 police 30,000 10,000 Local tailor 
			 GPS for the chief of police 150 150 KAF 
			 ID card making facility (ANP) 25,000 25,000 Alpha card systems 
			 Generators for the Governor 170,000 170,000 FCO—to be decided 
			 Wall for the office of the prosecutor 10,000 — To be decided 
			 Support to the Office of the Governor 35,000 10,000 Office of the Governor 
			 Support to the Office of the Governor 35,000 10,000 Office of the Governor 
			 Tribal Liaison Office, district reports 155,708 77,854 TLO 
			 Rehabilitate printing press 45,000 — Dept of Information 
			 Set up costs for Musa Qala district administration 10,000 10,000 Office of the Governor 
			 Counter Narcotics
			 Windmill wells 10,640 10,640 MNCC 
			 Vehicles for counter narcotics police authority 72,080 — Afghan motors 
			 Counter-narcotics PI campaign 279,939 175,000 WADAN 
			 Communications equipment for the counter narcotics police Afghanistan 10,000 — To be decided 
			 PA Systems for 12 district centres 3,000 3,000 MCN, MOA and PCD 
			 Counter narcotics tractor repairs 12,000 — MCN, MOA and PDC 
			 Counter narcotics tractor ploughs 30,000 30,000 MCN, MOA and PDC 
			 Counter narcotics tractor operation 68,024 — MCN, MOA and PDC 
			 Total 4,946,302 2,872,068

Aid Expenditure

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of UK aid has been allocated to projects on  (a) women's rights,  (b) education and literacy,  (c) health,  (d) infrastructure and  (e) political reform in each year since 2001.

Gareth Thomas: Expenditure relating to women's rights activities is not available. However table 1 includes expenditure that has a principle and a significant impact on promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women.
	Table 2 details expenditure from the bilateral development assistance programme on projects in education (including literacy) and health. Expenditure on activities relating to political reform is not easily defined and can include areas such as good governance through public financial management, anti-corruption, security sector reform and access to justice, but expenditure on these areas cannot be identified separately. However expenditure on local government reform (including Parliament and decentralisation), electoral assistance and public service reform can be identified and have been included in the figures for political reform.
	Expenditure on infrastructure includes transport and communication, energy, construction, water supply and sanitation and waste control for this category. Infrastructure expenditure also features in private sector development, information and communication, urban management, agricultural production but the infrastructure element cannot be identified separately and is not included in the figures as follows.
	A significant proportion of aid programme funding is channelled through multilateral organisations and much of this cannot be broken down by sector. I have therefore provided details of the bilateral project funding as a proportion of the DFID bilateral programme and of total UK gross expenditure on development in each year.
	
		
			  Table 1: Gender equality 
			   Percentage of DFID Bilateral Programme  Percentage of GPEX 
			 2001-02 17 7 
			 2002-03 20 9 
			 2003-04 23 10 
			 2004-05 30 12 
			 2005-06 32 12 
			  Source: SRSG Database 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2 
			   Education  Health 
			   Percentage of DFID Bilateral Programme  Percentage of GPEX  Percentage of DFID Bilateral Programme  Percentage of GPEX 
			 2001-02 10 4 20 9 
			 2002-03 10 4 20 9 
			 2003-04 12 5 21 9 
			 2004-05 13 5 22 9 
			 2005-06 10 4 22 8 
		
	
	
		
			   Political reform  Infrastructure 
			   Percentage of DFID Bilateral Programme  Percentage of GPEX  Percentage of DFID Bilateral Programme  Percentage of GPEX 
			 2001-02 8 3 6 3 
			 2002-03 5 2 5 2 
			 2003-04 12 5 6 2 
			 2004-05 9 4 4 2 
			 2005-06 10 4 5 2 
			  Source: SRSG Database

Cote d'Ivoire

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance the UK Government has offered to those affected by the spill of toxic liquid in Cote d'Ivoire.

Hilary Benn: In response to this regrettable incident, the UK offered assistance through the European Commission Civil Protection Mechanism, but as both France and the United Nations sent in assessment teams, our assistance was not required. The Ivorian authorities have since engaged an international waste management company for the clean-up operation.
	Although our support was not needed in this instance, DFID has provided over £5 million in humanitarian assistance since internal conflict broke out in 2002 to meet basic health and protection needs, and to assist with planning in the event of further deterioration in security.

Departmental IT

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which of his Department's databases are  (a) wholly and  (b) partly operated by external organisations or individuals; and which organisations and individuals own those databases.

Gareth Thomas: The following databases are operated by external organisations on behalf of DFID:
	1. The Research 4 Development (R4D) portal and database of DFID-funded research, operated for DFID by the Communication and Information Management Resource Centre (CIMRC) consortium.
	2. The NARSIS database of DFID-funded projects with natural resources components, operated for DFID by the Institute of Development Studies (IDS).
	3. The Infrastructure Connect database of DFID-funded research engineering and infrastructure projects, operated for DFID by the CIMRC consortium.
	In addition, DFID contributes data on a regular basis to the international AIDA directory of development projects and activities operated by the Development Gateway Foundation.

Departmental IT

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which databases operated by his Department are located  (a) wholly and  (b) partly outside the UK; and where each of those databases and parts of databases is located.

Gareth Thomas: DFID contributes data on a regular basis to the international AIDA directory of development projects and activities operated by the Development Gateway Foundation in Philadelphia, USA.
	DFID has a number of small databases which are maintained for internal operational purposes in its overseas offices. No central catalogue of these databases is maintained, and it could not be created without incurring disproportionate cost.

Departmental Vacancies

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of vacancies in his Department in the last 12 months required candidates to have at least a grade C in  (a) English and  (b) mathematics GCSE.

Gareth Thomas: In the last 12 months, one recruitment campaign for junior administrative posts required applicants to have a minimum of 5 GCSE/GCE subjects at grade A-C, one of which had to be in  (a) English and  (b) Mathematics. This represents 2.43 per cent. of all advertised vacancies.

Development Assistance

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what criteria are applied in assessing the costs of overheads in departmentally-administered development assistance.

Hilary Benn: DFID has separate budgets for Programme and Administration costs. The Administration budget provides for the cost of managing development assistance and covers pay, accommodation, travel and other costs of DFID staff in the UK and overseas, and the costs of consultants supplementing DFID's management capacity. Administration costs are subject to efficiency targets and kept under review to make sure they are value for money.

Development Goals

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which countries he plans to assist to achieve the 2015 development goals.

Hilary Benn: DFID assists many countries to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. DFID's efforts are, however, focused on 16 key countries in Africa and nine key countries in Asia. The focus countries in Africa are Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The focus countries in Asia are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan and Vietnam.
	Details of all the countries DFID is assisting can be found in "Statistics in International Development", published on 26 October 2006 on the DFID website www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/sid2006/sid06-full.pdf, table 12, pages 65-101. Hard copies will be available in the House of Commons Library shortly.

International GCSE

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department recognises the International GCSE as an acceptable substitute for a GCSE for the purposes of recruitment.

Gareth Thomas: The bulk of DFID recruitment is for advisory, specialist or senior managerial roles. A prerequisite for these posts is a university education and relevant degree. DFID may recognise the international GCSE as an acceptable substitute for a GCSE for the purposes of recruitment to junior administrative roles. The literacy and numeracy of new recruits to these posts would be tested using standard short answer tests.

Nepal

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the food situation in Nepal; and what further assistance the UK Government is considering.

Gareth Thomas: DFID is monitoring the situation jointly with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and other international bodies.
	DFID Nepal has allocated a total of £300,000 for support. Of this, £34,000 is currently being used by the World Food Programme (WFP) to buy and distribute emergency seed supplies to affected areas. £30,000 will be used to support a detailed food assessment by Government of Nepal and UN agencies in November. The remaining £236,000 will be spent on food aid in accordance with the recommendations of that food assessment and as agreed with OCHA.

North Korea

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations he has made to the  (a) World Food Programme,  (b) Japanese Government and  (c) South Korean Government on the food situation in North Korea.

Gareth Thomas: I have not made any such representations.

Palestine

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the temporary international mechanism for aid for Palestine.

Hilary Benn: Following the Hamas victory in the Palestinian Legislative Council elections in January this year, the Quartet (US, EU, UN and Russia) set out three principles for support to the Palestinian Government to continue. These were that the Palestinian Government should renounce violence, recognise Israel and accept previous agreements and obligations, including the Roadmap.
	In the light of the Hamas government's failure to meet these conditions, the European Union has set up a Temporary International Mechanism (TIM) to provide direct support to the Palestinian people. This mechanism avoids channelling funds through the Palestinian Government. DFID intends to contribute up to £12 million to the TIM, of which £9 million has so far been committed to specific programmes. The European Community is contributing €121.5 million. Other European donors are also contributing. A total of €70.5 million has so far been disbursed through the TIM.
	The TIM is providing several types of direct support. Since it was established 97,000 Palestinians have received needs-based allowances. These allowances have supported health care workers, teachers and the most vulnerable citizens in Palestinian society. Over 2.4 million litres of fuel have been provided for emergency generators at water pumping stations, waste water facilities, hospitals and health centres in Gaza. This has enabled essential services to continue after damage to Gaza's only power station in an Israeli air strike. DFID funding is contributing to allowances for poor Palestinians, health supplies, and to repair, maintenance and running costs for electricity, water and sanitation services.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Alternative Energy Sources

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what financial resources are being directed towards research in Northern Ireland to investigate alternative energy sources.

Maria Eagle: In the past four financial years total funding in excess of £2.8 million has been directed by Government Departments and agencies at projects investigating alternative energy sources. This excludes consideration of higher education research funding provided to universities as such funding is not directed towards specific areas of investigation.
	From April 2006 these financial resources have been augmented by the £59.2 million Environment and Renewable Energy Fund which has a significant element devoted to renewables related research and demonstration.

Arts Production

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his assessment is of the impact of the pledge made by the Arts Minister in a press release on 3 August 2005 to ensure that arts and creativity are recognised as particularly valuable contributors to the Northern Ireland economy, to education and to the community on  (a) community relations in Northern Ireland,  (b) revenue raised,  (c) job creation and  (d) Northern Ireland's education system.

Maria Eagle: There has been good progress since August 2005 to ensure that the value of arts and culture is recognised in:
	 (a) Community Relations: £3.3 million new funding has been secured for investment in local community projects under the Arts Council's Re-imaging Communities programme.
	 (b) Revenue Raised: in 2003, the Creative Industries in Northern Ireland generated an estimated turnover of £900 million(1). The Strategic Investment Board has an indicative allocation of £20 million for arts infrastructure in the Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland (2005-15) and a further £3 million has been secured from the Integrated Development Fund.
	 (c) Job Creation: In 2003 employment in the Creative Industries in Northern Ireland was estimated to be 33,500(1). This is the most recent regional estimate available.
	 (d) Education System: Preparations are on-going for the roll-out of the new statutory curriculum from September 2007 and this will have the use of critical and creative thinking skills at its core. In addition, DCAL in partnership with DE has funded specific initiatives such as the Creative Youth Partnerships and Creative Learning Centres providing new learning opportunities for children and young people through arts and digital media.
	( 1 ) Source:
	DCAL Research and Statistics Branch

Arts Production

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken to implement the Arts Minister's pledges made in his press release on 3 August 2005  (a) to encourage the commitment of people involved in arts in Northern Ireland,  (b) to put arts and creativity among his key priorities and  (c) to ensure that arts and creativity are recognised as particularly valuable contributors to the Northern Ireland economy, to education and to the community.

Maria Eagle: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given today to question 97282 and would add that the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure has been active in encouraging commitment in the sector through involvement in a range of initiatives and events including:
	Craft NI—established as the lead organisation for the development of contemporary craft and applied arts sector in Northern Ireland;
	Culture NI—a website publicising the range of art and cultural activities in Northern Ireland;
	Arts and Business—an organisation that helps to build partnerships between businesses and arts organisations and practitioners;
	Shifting Brilliances—a major conference aimed at increasing the level of network television drama production in Northern Ireland held in October 2006;
	Urban Alchemy Conference—focusing on the transforming power of art and architecture held in October 2006;
	Arts and Culture Stakeholders meeting in the North West—to explore the potential for using arts and culture as a catalyst for regeneration held in April 2006

Departmental Meetings

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what meetings his Department has held with children since 10 August 2005; what mechanisms have been put in place in Government to study and act on the views of children as a result of the Government's pledge to do so; what suggestions have been received from children by his Department; and what steps have been taken to implement suggestions made by children.

Maria Eagle: Ministers have held a series of meetings with children and young people from 10 August 2005 and I refer the hon. Gentleman to my previous answer on 26 October 2006,  Official Report, column 2038W.
	In relation to mechanisms to study and act on the views of children and young people, we are in the process of establishing a participation network, which will be sited within the Northern Ireland Youth Forum. The aim of the network is offer training and consultancy support to the statutory sector in order to engage directly with children and young people; and develop and promote standards of good practice in relation to child and youth participation. It is intended to have network staff in place by January 2007. In addition, options for taking forward the establishment of a Northern Ireland Network for Youth are being considered as part of the development of RPA proposals. Consultation with young people is currently taking place. Account will be taken of the responses to consultation by the cross-sectoral Youth RPA Project Board, responsible for developing proposals for the establishment of the Northern Ireland Network for Youth.

Departmental Vacancies

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of vacancies in his Department in the last 12 months required candidates to have at least a grade C in  (a) English and  (b) mathematics GCSE.

David Hanson: The proportion of vacancies filled within the Northern Ireland civil service in the last 12 months, where a Grade C in either  (a) English or  (b) Mathematics GCSE was a specific requirement in the recruitment competition, is set out in the following table.
	
		
			   Percentage 
			 English 67 
			 Mathematics 3

Greyhound Racing

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has given consideration to working with the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism of the Republic of Ireland Government to establish an all-Ireland body to help develop the greyhound industry in Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: Greyhound racing is administered on an all-Ireland basis by Bord na cGon. I have recently indicated to the Republic of Ireland Government a willingness to explore the further possibility of all-Island co-operation in this sector.

Parliamentary Questions

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 9 October 2006,  Official Report, column 329W, on parliamentary questions, for what purpose Northern Ireland civil service officials in the North/South Ministerial Council Joint Secretariat receive a daily list of all parliamentary questions tabled to Northern Ireland departments.

David Hanson: As part of the administrative arrangements for answering parliamentary questions, Northern Ireland civil service officials in the North/South Ministerial Council Joint Secretariat routinely receive a copy of the daily list of all PQs allocated to the departments of the Northern Ireland administration. These arrangements ensure that officials, as in other Departments, are aware at an early stage of the questions on which they may be required to advise Ministers or on which other Departments may be seeking information or advice.

Rowandale Integrated Primary School

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many expressions of interest have been lodged with the Department of Education by parents who wish to send their children to the proposed Rowandale Integrated Primary School.

Maria Eagle: A development proposal to establish Rowandale Integrated Primary School with effect from 1 September 2007 or the earliest date thereafter was published by the South Eastern Education and Library Board on behalf of the Rowandale Integrated Primary School Steering Group on 19 September 2006. The statutory two-month consultation period ends on 20 November 2006.
	In submitting the development proposal for the establishment of a new grant maintained integrated primary school the Steering Group indicated that at 18 August 2006, they had received 20 expressions of interest for Year 1 at September 2007 with a further 57 children identified for Year 1 for the years 2008 to 2011 inclusive. In addition, the Group has advised that 22 families had expressed interest in transferring their children to the proposed new school from existing primary schools.

PRIME MINISTER

Afghanistan

Julian Lewis: To ask the Prime Minister what role UK forces are undertaking in suppressing poppy cultivation in Afghanistan.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made on 10 July 2006,  Official Report, column 1135, by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence.

Human Rights

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his reply of 25 October 2006,  Official Report, column 1883W, on human rights, on which day in September his Office received a draft of the report.

Tony Blair: I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave the hon. Member on 25 October 2006,  Official Report, column 1883W.

SCOTLAND

Correspondence

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many items of correspondence have been received by his Department since 5 May 2005.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office has received 1,761 items of correspondence since 5 May 2005.

Correspondence

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of correspondence received by his Department since 5 May 2005 was answered within 15 days of receipt.

David Cairns: 83.7 per cent. of correspondence received by the Scotland Office has been answered within 15 working days of receipt since 5 May 2005.

Departmental Mail

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of his Department's mail is shipped using private companies; and what the cost was over the last 12 months.

David Cairns: 0 per cent.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Departmental Staff

Nick Gibb: To ask the Solicitor-General what proportion of vacancies in the Law Officers' Departments in the last 12 months required candidates to have at least a grade C in  (a) English and  (b) mathematics GCSE.

Mike O'Brien: The Treasury Solicitor's Department and the Attorney-General's Office require candidates, for open competition vacancies, to have a minimum of five GCSEs (or equivalent) at grade C, including English language. Therefore one 100 per cent. of vacancies require candidates to have at least grade C in English language GCSE or equivalent. No candidates were specifically required to have at least grade C in mathematics GCSE
	There have been no vacancies in the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in the last 12 months that required candidates to have at least a grade C in English and Mathematics GCSE, as all recruitment is competency based. Candidates for administrative positions will provide evidence of competency in English and Mathematics, where necessary, at interview or through testing.
	RCPO held 20 appointment exercises for 54 vacancies of which 21 have asked for at least grade C in English during the last year.
	HMCPSI does not quote these qualifications as a requirement but it is an expectation that candidates or prospective employees will have these basic qualifications.

Departmental Staff

Nick Gibb: To ask the Solicitor-General whether the Law Officers' Department recognises the International GCSE as an acceptable substitute for a GCSE for the purposes of recruitment.

Mike O'Brien: The Law Officer's Department does recognise the International GCSEs as an acceptable substitute for GCSEs for the purposes of recruitment if formal qualifications were necessary.

National Minimum Wage

John McDonnell: To ask the Solicitor-General how many employees in the Law Officers' Departments were affected by the rise in the minimum wage on 1 October 2006.

Mike O'Brien: The Law Officers' Departments did not have any staff affected by the rise in the minimum wage on 1 October 2006.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

British Geological Survey

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the grant to the British Geological Survey is in 2006-07; and what it is expected to be in each of the next three years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The British Geological Survey (BGS) is a wholly-owned research centre of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). BGS receives funding from the science budget via NERC, and from external commissioned research from the public and private sectors. The annual science budget allocations from NERC to BGS are as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Resource budget  Capital budget  Total budget 
			 2006-07 (1)26.1 2.3 28.4 
			 2007-08 24.9 (2)6.7 31.6 
			 2008-09 25.2 (2)5.1 30.3 
			 2009-10 26.4 1.7 28.1 
			 (1) This figure contains a £1.6 million carry forward from 2005-06. The 2006-07 budgeted figure was actually £24.5 million, in line with the steady increase in the resource budget throughout the four-year period. (2) The larger capital budget figures for 2007-08 and 2008-09 is due to re-building work at the British Geological Survey in Keyworth, with the figure settling back down again in 2009-10.

Departmental Redundancies

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has for  (a) voluntary and  (b) compulsory redundancies in his Department during (i) 2006-07 and (ii) 2007-08 financial years; and how many officials in his Department, have (A) taken voluntary severance and (B) been made, or informed that they will be made, redundant in each month since July 2006 broken down by (1) directorate and (2) grade.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department's strategy is to become a more streamlined, influential, policy-making Department at the centre of the DTI family, with delivery through our agencies and arm's-length bodies. In order to do this we are undertaking a number of reviews that, in tandem with significant pressures across all budgets, are likely to lead to some reduction in staff numbers.
	The Department and the trade unions are committed to working together to make every attempt to avoid compulsory redundancies. However, the Department has decided to put the consultation on a statutory footing because the scale of the changes may result in some compulsory redundancies.
	As part of the Department's efficiency programme, the DTI has supported over 450 people during the last two years. They have been given help with upskilling and job search and have either been redeployed or have taken advantage of exit schemes. Despite this some 11 individuals remain without posts and were made aware on 2 August 2006 that they will receive notice of redundancy in the near future. During the period of notice they will remain supported by the Department to help secure alternative suitable posts.
	The following number of officials have taken early severance since July 2006:
	
		
			   Number of staff  Range  DTI group 
			  2006
			 July 2 6s UK Trade and Investment 
			 
			 August 1 8 Operations 
			  1 6 UK Trade and Investment

Departmental Redundancies

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many redundancies there were in his Department in each year since 1997; what the cost of such redundancies was in each such year; how many temporary staff were employed in each such year; and how many staff were seconded by outside organisations to the Department in each year.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The following table gives the number of compulsory redundancies made in each financial year by core DTI (including SBS and UKTI):
	
		
			   Number of staff 
			 1998 0 
			 1999 0 
			 2000 0 
			 2001 5 
			 2002 0 
			 2003 3 
			 2004 1 
			 2005 4 
			 2006 17 
		
	
	The information for pre-2004 redundancy charges could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The costs of redundancies since 2004 under the Civil Service Compensation Scheme, including continuing charges, have been as follows:
	
		
			  £000 
			   Cost 
			 2004-05 49 
			 2005-06 161 
			 2006-07 l,196 
		
	
	The number of agency staff in the Department fluctuates throughout the year and they were not categorised as such until mid-2004. The following figures are as at 1 October of each year:
	
		
			  1 October  Number of agency temps 
			 2004 179 
			 2005 180 
			 2006 87 
		
	
	The number of staff seconded into the Department, again as at 1 October of each year, was as follows:
	
		
			  1 October  Number of secondees into DTI 
			 1997 82 
			 1998 119 
			 1999 134 
			 2000 112 
			 2001 80 
			 2002 118 
			 2003 128 
			 2004 103 
			 2005 89 
			 2006 82

Departmental Staff

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of vacancies in his Department in the last 12 months required candidates to have at least a grade C in  (a) English and  (b) mathematics GCSE.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Recruitment to the DTI is competence based focusing on skills and experience rather than formal qualifications, and there may not be a specific requirement for new recruits to hold a particular type of qualification. These data are therefore not collected centrally.

Energy Technologies Institute

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the new energy and environmental research institute that he announced in Budget 2006 is planned to be established; and how much the Government plan to grant to the institute in the first year of its existence.

Jim Fitzpatrick: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry published the prospectus for the Energy Technologies Institute on 14 September. It envisaged that the institute would be legally established and fully operational in 2008, with 50:50 public/private sector funding. The prospectus also envisaged the following funding profile, if there are worthwhile projects available. The Government are committed to providing 50 per cent. of these funds.
	
		
			   Cost per annum (£ million) 
			 2006-07 2 
			 2007-08 20 
			 2008-09 (and onwards) (1)100 
			 (1 )Assumes £50 million p.a. is secured from private sector partners.

Energy Policy

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the feasibility of using thorium-powered nuclear reactors to help meet UK electricity demand.

Alistair Darling: It is for industry to decide what type of fuel to use in any future reactor systems. Industry proposals for a commercial thorium-fuelled reactor would seem unlikely while there are ample supplies of uranium.

IT Projects

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which information technology projects are being undertaken by  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies; what the (i) start date, (ii) original planned completion date, (iii) expected completion date, (iv) originally planned costs and (v) estimated costs are of each; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested is as follows:
	 'Core' DTI information technology projects:
	Matrix2 (Electronic Document Records Management) (i) January 2006; (ii) April 2007; (iii) April 2007; (iv) £3.5 million; (v) £3.5million.
	Flexible Computing (Provision of appropriate business tools for mobile workers) (i) September 2004; (ii) January 2007; (iii) March 2007; (iv) £9 million; (v) £9.5 million.
	HR (Oracle based personnel system) (i) March 2006; (ii) Q3 2007; (iii) Q3 2007; (iv) £4.2 million; (v) £4.2 million.
	 Companies House information technology projects:
	CHIPS (Mainframe replacement) (i) February 2001; (ii) April 2005; (iii) January 2007; (iv) £22.7 million; (v) £43 million.
	 Insolvency Service information technology projects:
	ISolv (web based self-service capability that allows citizens to enter petitions directly. Part-funded by an Invest to Save Budget (ISB)) (i) November 2003; (ii) July 2006 (Support period ending June 2007); (iii) April 2008 (Support period ending March 2009); (iv) £2.4 million (inc. £1.8 million HM Treasury ISB funding); (v) £3.1 million (inc. £1.8 million HM Treasury ISB funding).
	ISCIS (replacement of LOIS and Central Index applications, providing process management efficiencies) (i) July 2004; (ii) June 2006; (iii) December 2007; (iv) £8 million; (v) £3 million.
	CHAMP (replacement for CHIRPS Redundancy Payment system, funded by HMRC) (i) September 2005; (ii) August 2007; (iii) April 2008; (iv) £1.6 million; (v) £1.3 million.
	Corporate Reporting (enterprise-wide management reporting tool across all applications, providing improved management information and scorecard) (i) June 2006; (ii) December 2008; (iii) March 2009; (iv) £1.35 million; (v) £1.35 million.
	ICM (integrated electronic document and records management environment and scanning service) (i) February 2006; (ii) September 2008; (iii) September 2008; (iv) £1.7 million (plus migration costs); (v) £2.3 million (now for running costs for a scanning bureau which are £630,000 p.a.).
	Technology Refresh (replacement of the technology infrastructure) (i) October 2005; (ii) June 2008; (iii) June 2008; (iv) £5 million to £7 million (estimated costs to complete); (v) £5 million to £7 million (estimated costs to complete).
	EAS (replacement banking system) (i) June 2001; (ii) April 2004; (iii) June 2008; (iv) £l8.5 million; (v) £18.5 million.
	 National Weights and Measures Laboratory information technology projects:
	NWML's total IT budget for 2006-07 is £171,000 running costs and £100,000 capital expenditure. A major project to improve website and internal communications is being considered, but is currently still at the planning stage.
	 The Patent Office information technology projects:
	Patent Electronic Case File System Phase 4 (i) June 2006; (ii) March 2007; (iii) March 2007; (iv) £1.13 million; (v) £1.13 million.
	Trade Mark Modernisation Programme Definition Phase (i) June 2005; (ii) October 2006; (iii) February 2007; (iv) £2.93 million; (v) £3.56 million.

Joint Telescope Agreement

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the UK will withdraw from the joint telescope agreement with Australia; and what the annual savings will be to his Department.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The agreements between the Governments of the UK and Australia concerning the Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT) will terminate with effect from 1 July 2010.
	The Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC) is responsible for the funding of astronomical research. In financial year 2005-06, the UK's contribution to the costs of operation of the AAT, paid by PPARC, was £1.58 million. The reductions in annual financial contributions, as a result of the phased withdrawal from the Anglo-Australian Telescope, will be approximately as follows:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2006-07 0.7 
			 2007-08 1.1 
			 2008-09 1.2 
			 2009-10 1.3 
			 2010-11 1.5

Light Bulbs

Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of light bulbs purchased by his Department in 2005 were of the compact fluorescent type.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department installs energy efficient lighting throughout its estate as a part of its strategy to achieve the energy targets set out in the framework for sustainable development in Government.
	The percentage of compact fluorescent type lights purchased on the DTI estate represented 27 per cent. for the calendar year 2005.

Ministerial Visits

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he plans to visit Northern Ireland.

Alistair Darling: I have no immediate plans to visit Northern Ireland.

Polar Research

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the future of an independent UK polar research capability, with particular reference to  (a) future funding,  (b) planned projects and  (c) pooling of resources.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is part of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). BAS undertakes the majority of Britain's scientific research on and around the Antarctic continent. In addition, NERC supports the Antarctic Funding Initiative (AFI) which provides access to Antarctica for scientists from NERC and the UK's university community.
	NERC supports environmental research in the Arctic at UK universities and research institutes. NERC also leases buildings at the International Science Facility at Ny &Aring;lesund in Svalbard for the NERC Arctic Research Station, which BAS manages.
	 (a) and  (b) The BAS research programme is planned and funded on a five-year timetable and the current programme 'Global Science in the Antarctic Context', ends on 31 March 2010, further details of which are available at www.antarctica.ac.uk. BAS has also received additional funding to construct a new research station at Halley, which will be operational for the 2009-10 Antarctic season.
	Details of the funding allocation to BAS are in the table:
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Resource Budget  Capital Budget  Total Budget 
			 2006-07 38.0 12.5 50.5 
			 2007-08 40.7 17.0 57.7 
			 2008-09 39.0 7.0 46.0 
			 2009-10 37.8 4.3 42.1 
		
	
	 (c) Co-operation within Antarctica on logistical matters is standard operational practice, and BAS has formal agreements with Chile, France, Italy, Germany, Netherlands and the USA.

TRANSPORT

Blue Badges

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether car drivers are entitled to display a blue badge only when a person with disabilities is in the car; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: When a vehicle is being driven by someone other than the badge holder, a blue badge may be displayed for the purposes of entering or leaving an area, which is accessible only to vehicles displaying a blue badge, in order to pick up or drop off the badge holder.

Buses

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many bus  (a) routes and  (b) vehicles on such routes there were in (i) Beverley and Holderness and (ii) East Riding of Yorkshire in each of the last nine years; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: The information requested is in some cases not available and in others could be obtained only at disproportionate expense.

Driving Licences

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many driving licences were reported  (a) lost and  (b) stolen in each of the last five years.

Stephen Ladyman: The DVLA does not keep records of the specific reasons why duplicate driving licences are requested. Duplicate licences are supplied to replace lost, stolen and damaged licences. The total number of duplicate driving licences issued in each of the last five financial years is as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2001-02 584,489 
			 2002-03 699,528 
			 2003-04 811,670 
			 2004-05 856,258 
			 2005-06 937,634 
		
	
	This supersedes my answer of 19 October 2006,  Official Report, column 1340W, to the hon. Member for The Wrekin (Mark Pritchard).

FV Gaul

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will examine recent evidence and decide whether the formal investigation into the loss of the FV Gaul should be re-opened.

Stephen Ladyman: The re-opened formal investigation into the loss of the FV Gaul was conducted with unprecedented thoroughness. The evidence was scrutinised by leading experts in the fields of oceanography, naval architecture and engineering.
	There is no reason to doubt the outcome of the expert analysis that led to the RFI's conclusions, and consequently there is no reason to reopen the investigation.

Railways

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many and what percentage of British trains were accessible by disabled people in each of the last 20 years.

Gillian Merron: The Department does not keep a breakdown by year of the number of accessible trains in service, as delivery schedules and use of older units often vary according to operational needs.

Railways

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the effect on different user groups of Network Rail's decision to cease publishing the national rail timetable in a book format.

Tom Harris: It is for Network Rail to make any necessary assessment about the decision on whether to cease or continue publishing the national timetable in book format.

Railways

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with representatives from Network Rail on its decision to cease publishing the national rail timetable in a book format.

Tom Harris: The Secretary of State has had no such discussions, as the decision on whether to cease or continue publishing the national timetable in book format is one for Network Rail.

Railways

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from  (a) rail user groups and  (b) other stakeholders on Network Rail's decision to cease publishing the national rail timetable in a book format.

Tom Harris: No representations have been made by Passenger Focus or London Travelwatch, the statutory bodies representing passengers. No representations have been received from the train operators who run the trains. Some representations have been received from members of the public, either directly or through their Members of Parliament.

Railways

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what effect on costs he expects Network Rail to achieve by ceasing to publish the national rail timetable in a book format.

Tom Harris: It is for Network Rail to consider its costs in deciding how to publish the national timetable.

Road Accidents

Dennis Skinner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people have been killed in road traffic accidents in the East Midlands in the last five years.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested was published in table 47 of 'Road Casualties Great Britain: 2005' on 28 September 2006. Copies of the publication have been placed in the Library of the House.

Road Freight

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what further plans the Government have to encourage the transfer of road freight to  (a) rail and  (b) waterways.

Stephen Ladyman: We have three schemes that will directly support the transfer of freight traffic from road to rail and water. These schemes are the Freight Facilities Grant (FFG), Rail Environmental Benefit Procurement Scheme (REPS) and Waterborne Freight Grant (WFG). From April 2007 these schemes will be managed through the Sustainable Distribution Fund. The Secretary of State made a statement to Parliament announcing an increased budget for the Sustainable Distribution Fund on the 15 June 2006.
	Since that statement the Department has received state aids approval for the REPS program from the European Commission. Officials are now proceeding towards implementing the new scheme to ensure as smooth a transition as possible from the current arrangements.

Road Freight

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures the Government have introduced since 1997 to encourage the transfer of freight from road to  (a) rail and  (b) waterways.

Stephen Ladyman: Since 1997, direct support to promote mode shift from road to rail has been provided in the form of freight facilities grants, track access grants and company neutral revenue support. In addition, the Government have provided continued support to the rail freight industry through their policies towards the railways, specifically through the Railways Act 2005. These policies have contributed to considerable growth in rail freight moved in the period, up 46 per cent. between 1996-97 and 2005-06.
	In the same period, the Government have also awarded grants of £54 million for water freight schemes. These will have saved over 1 billion road miles worth of lorry journeys on our roads. Last year we introduced a new waterborne freight grant scheme to assist both inland waterways and shipping companies with their operating costs. Since 2002, we have also implemented the recommendations of the Freight Study Group, which the Government established to consider how more freight could be carried on inland waterways. This included the setting up and funding of Sea and Water, an organisation specifically set up to represent the industry and promote water freight. We have also funded the costs of a Sea and Water database to provide all the necessary information potential water freight customers.

Toll Bridges

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many toll bridges there are in England; and what charges are made on each.

Stephen Ladyman: There are currently 13 bridges in England where a toll may be charged under statute to fund the finance, operation and maintenance costs of the undertaking.
	The following table lists the 13 statutory tolled bridges. Toll rates at each of these undertakings often vary based on the classification of vehicle using the particular bridge, therefore for simplicity the following shows only the maximum tolls chargeable (as at 27 October 2006) for motorcars and large goods vehicles.
	
		
			  Toll bridge  Motor car  Large good vehicle 
			 Aldwark Bridge (each way) 40p £.001 
			 Clifton Suspension Bridge (each way) 30p 30p 
			 Dunham Bridge (each way) 25p 50p to £1.00 
			 Humber Bridge (each way) £2.70 £10.90 to £18.30 
			 Itchen Bridge (each way) 60p £1 .20 to £25 
			 Rixton and Warburton Bridge (each way) 12p 12p 
			 Second Severn Bridge (one way) £4.90 £14.70 
			 Severn Bridge (one way) £4.90 £14.70 
			 Shrewsbury (Kingsland) Bridge (each way) 10p 10p 
			 Swinford Bridge (each way) 5p 5p (for two axles) or 10p per axle (over two axles) 
			 Tamar Bridge (one way) £1 £2.50 to £5.50 
			 Whitchurch Bridge (each way) 20p £2 
			 Whitney-on-Wye Bridge 50p 50p or £1.00 
		
	
	There are also a number of unregulated bridges where a toll is charged for the right to cross private land. A complete list of these bridges is not available. The table shown does not include estuarine crossings other than bridges or where the bridge is subject to a congestion charge rather than a toll.

Torremolinos Convention

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to ratify the International Marine Organisation's Torremolinos Convention.

Stephen Ladyman: European Directive 97/70/EC implemented a harmonised safety regime based on the 1993 Torremolinos Protocol. The safety standards were subsequently enhanced by Directive 2002/35/EC. The Government consider these standards exceed the requirements of the protocol and that its ratification is therefore no longer necessary.

Tractors

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on the use of agricultural tractors for haulage on public highways; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: Most users of goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes need to hold an operators licence to perform haulage work on public highways. However, The Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Regulations 1995 allow for certain classes of vehicles to be exempt from this requirement. These exemptions are deliberately narrow in scope and apply mainly to specialist vehicles not often used on the public road.
	Currently, tractors are exempted when they are used on roads for specified agricultural purposes, e.g. hauling produce within 24 km of a farm. The Department for Transport is reviewing the existing operator licence exemptions, including those for agricultural vehicles, and we aim to consult formally on proposals later this year.

Tractors

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many  (a) motor tractors and  (b) agricultural tractors in (i) England, (ii) Wales and (iii) Scotland are registered with the DVLA.

Stephen Ladyman: Figures are available only on the numbers of those vehicles that were licensed with DVLA as at June 2006:
	 (a) The number of licensed motor tractors in England was 72,575, in Wales was 2,711 and in Scotland was 5,348.
	 (b) The number of licensed agricultural tractors in England was 193,302, in Wales was 23,866 and in Scotland was 33,238.

TREASURY

Boilers

Alan Duncan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what boilers are on the official Government list of recommended renewable-energy fired boilers; and what fuel is used in each appliance.

Alistair Darling: holding answer 30 October 2006
	I have been asked to reply.
	There are two official Government lists of recommended renewable-energy fired boilers.
	Under the DTI's low carbon buildings programme, there is a list of approximately 100 accredited boilers that burn logs, wood chips or wood pellets, and a further 40 pellet burning stoves and room heaters. A full list of accredited products can be found at:
	http://www.clear-skies.org/households/RecognisedProducts.aspx
	Under HMT's enhanced capital allowances scheme, there is a list of 266 recommended biomass boilers and room heaters. All products listed will have had to be designed so that they can be fuelled solely by wood, straw or similar vegetable matter in order to meet the scheme criteria. A full list of the products can be found at:
	http://www.eca.gov.uk/etl/search.asp?pagecode=0001000200010001

Child Trust Funds

George Mudie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average percentage return has been from a child trust fund allocated under the default investment arrangements; and how many child trust funds have been allocated to each default provider.

Edward Balls: We do not hold information on rate of returns from child trust fund accounts.
	Up to 20 September 2006, the total number of child trust fund accounts opened by HM Revenue and Customs under the default arrangements was 441,474. These are allocated on a strictly rotational basis to those 14 providers who have volunteered to take these accounts.

Council of Economic Advisers

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the role is of his Council of Economic Advisers; and how its role differs from that of special advisers.

John Healey: As set out in Treasury PN 99/97 on 4 August 1997
	"the Council of Economic Advisers is made up of individual policy experts who will bring their specialist experience to work alongside individual Treasury teams focussing on the Government's key policy priorities."

DEFRA Funding

Janet Dean: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will use moneys from the Contingency Fund to increase the funds available to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

John Healey: DEFRA is managing its current range of pressures within the departmental expenditure limit agreed at the 2004 spending review.

Departmental Publications

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many publications his Department has printed in the last 12 months; and what the total printing cost was.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Angus (Mr. Weir) on 9 October,  Official Report, column 271W.

Deutsche Morgan Grenfell Group (Court Judgment)

David Gauke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the cost to the Exchequer arising as a consequence of the House of Lords judgment of 25 October 2006 in Deutsche Morgan Grenfell Group plc. (Respondents)  v. Her Majesty's Commissioners of Inland Revenue and another (Appellants).

Dawn Primarolo: The Deutsche Morgan Grenfell Group (DMG) plc. case was about the time limits for tax purposes for making claims on the basis of a mistake of law. For those classes of litigation similar to DMG and where the principal issue has been finally decided by the courts, the judgment will result in additional payments of around £300 million. For other classes of litigation there are too many contingencies to estimate the amounts that will be payable, or indeed whether the DMG judgment would apply at all.

Director of Policy and Planning

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many members of staff his Director of Policy and Planning manages.

John Healey: As part of their duties two officials provide support to the Treasury's Director of Policy and Planning.

Economic Migration

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect on unemployment of the level of economic migration to the UK in each quarter since 2003; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The Department for Work and Pensions analysed the effect of migrants from the new European Union member states from Central and Eastern Europe from May 2004 to November 2005. They found no discernible statistical evidence that these migrants had any impact on local unemployment rates. A copy of the report can be found at the following web address:
	www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/wp29.pdf.

EU Accounts

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with EU Finance Ministers on the transparency of the EU accounts since the publication of the last report of the Court of Auditors; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Balls: EU Finance Ministers will consider the European Court of Auditors report on the 2005 EC Budget when this is presented at the 7 November ECOFIN meeting, and HM Treasury is in regular contact with other EU Finance Ministries. It is clearly disappointing that that report, which was published on 24 October 2006, was once again unable to give a positive statement of assurance on the bulk of 2005 EC Budget expenditure. This sends a negative message to European taxpayers and the UK, and all other member states must work with the European Commission to ensure that improvements are made to the management of EC funds for which they are responsible.

Finance Acts

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many sections in Finance Acts have had retrospective consequences on the tax liability of  (a) individuals and  (b) companies since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Many sections of Finance Acts take effect from dates prior to the date on which the particular Act received Royal Assent. This is a well established and accepted feature of the way Parliament makes much of its fiscal legislation. The fact that provisions need to take practical effect prior to the passing of the Finance Bill is recognised, for example, by the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act 1968 which gives statutory effect to provisions in advance of the passing of the Finance Bill, in particular excise duties on alcohol, petrol and tobacco.

Financial Inclusion Fund

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in the allocation of £20 million of the Financial Inclusion Fund to stimulate demand for mainstream financial services.

Edward Balls: On the advice of the Financial Inclusion Taskforce the Government are launching a campaign to promote demand for financial products and services. The campaign is working with trusted intermediaries such as charities and the social housing sector to increase awareness of financial exclusion and address the barriers to accessing mainstream banking and sources of affordable credit. The Department for Work and Pensions is managing the campaign delivery unit, in partnership with secondees from stakeholder organisations across England, Wales and Scotland. Recruitment of stakeholder managers is now nearing completion.

Firearms

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of firearms entering the UK in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The following table provides data on the number of firearms (including handguns, rifles and machine guns) legally imported into the UK from outside the EU since 2003. Intra-EU imports and data prior to 2003 are not available. HM Revenue and Customs has no estimate of the number of firearms illegally entering the UK.
	
		
			  Firearms imports 
			   Number 
			 2003 57,497 
			 2004 38,742 
			 2005 131,484 
			 2006 32,326

HM Revenue and Customs Staff

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many HM Revenue and Customs employees have been allocated to the reduction of the importation of  (a) controlled drugs,  (b) illegal firearms and  (c) illicit (i) alcohol and (ii) tobacco in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The following table provides data on annual HM Revenue and Customs staff years employed. The data for other prohibitions and restrictions (Other P and Rs) includes staff years employed on firearms. The recording system does not break the figures down beyond these four categories.
	Data prior to 2002-03 is not readily available.
	
		
			  Number of staff years employed 
			   Class A drugs  Alcohol  Tobacco  Other P and Rs 
			 2002-03 2623.4 869.7 2437.7 219.2 
			 2003-04 2742.3 828.0 2084.0 217.4 
			 2004-05 2877.6 767.0 1877.9 290.8 
			 2005-06 2503.8 742.2 2113.4 242.6

Illegal Imports

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of illegal items entering the UK in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: HM Revenue and Customs does not make its own estimates of the number of illegal items entering the UK. Lead Departments and other agencies produce estimates for certain items. Where appropriate HMRC employs these estimates for operational targeting.

Illegal Imports

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in respect of what illegal items HM Revenue and Customs has targets to reduce the level of imports; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: HM Revenue and Customs' public service agreement includes the target to maintain or increase the number of seizures from 2005-06 baselines of class A drugs and meat and other items seized under the products of animal origin regulations.

Islam and Muslim Affairs

Paul Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements his Department has in place for offering him advice on Islam and matters relating to Muslims; and who his advisers are on Islam and Muslim affairs.

John Healey: Where appropriate officials provide advice on matters relating to Muslim communities. The Treasury has arrangements in place to provide for the participation of Muslim organisations in formal consultative bodies: for example, in the Direct and Indirect Tax Technical Groups looking at alternative forms of finance.
	The Department for Communities and Local Government is the lead Department on domestic matters relating to Muslim communities and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is the lead department on international matters. Where appropriate the Treasury seeks advice from these Departments.

Middle East

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to publish his Department's report on economic development in Israel and Palestine.

Edward Balls: As the Chancellor made clear in a speech on 10 October at Chatham House, an economic road map can help underpin the Middle East road map. An interim progress report on Economic Aspects of Peace in the Middle East was published by the Treasury in January and G7 Finance Ministers took stock of the situation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip at their meeting in Singapore in September. It is expected that the final report will be published at the appropriate point when economic proposals can best contribute to progress. G7 Finance Ministers are likely to return to the issues at their next meeting.

Oil Imports

Anne Begg: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the net cost to the Exchequer of imported oil was in each year since 1997.

John Healey: There is no net cost to the Exchequer from imported oil. Profits earned from UK produced oil are subject to direct taxation regardless of whether the oil is exported or consumed within the United Kingdom and fuel consumed in the United Kingdom is subject to indirect taxation regardless of its origin.

R40 Form

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will ensure that envelopes supplied for the R40 form are wide enough to accommodate A4 paper.

Dawn Primarolo: The return envelope is designed to fit the R40 form which is not standard A4 width. The R40 form is 20 mm narrower and the envelope is 5 mm narrower than A4.
	The R40 is currently being redesigned and from the April 2007 issue, HMRC intend to change both the issue and return envelopes. The issue size will be A4 to accommodate enclosures that are sent out with the form. The return envelope will be C5. This will reduce the amount of postage required.

Retirement Age

David Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has made any estimate of  (a) how much tax revenue is lost each year as a result of the default retirement age of 65 years and  (b) the number of people who would wish to continue working beyond the default retirement age.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I have been asked to reply.
	In March 2006 we published the final regulatory impact assessment (RIA) for the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations. It estimated an increase in tax revenues of between £8 million and £52 million in the first year following introduction of the legislation. This rises to between £40 million to £240 million after 10 years. The RIA also estimated that in the first year the legislation would lead to an initial increase in labour supply of 3,000 people aged 65 and over, leading to a total increase to 14,000 after 10 years.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what directions  (a) he and  (b) the Paymaster General have given to the new Chairman of HM Revenue and Customs in 2006 on the operation of the tax credits system; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what work his Department has been carrying out since July 2006 to improve the tax credits system.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the Chancellor's Annual Remit for 2006-07 to HMRC which can be found at Annex A of HMRC's Spring Departmental Report 2006 available at www.hmrc.gov.uk.
	HMRC continue to develop the tax credits IT system.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the cost of organised tax credit fraud in  (a) 2004-05 and  (b) 2005-06; and how many prosecutions for such fraud there have been.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to HM Revenue and Customs 2005-06 Accounts: The Comptroller and Auditor General's Standard Report, available at http://www.nao.org.uk/ and to the HMRC publication 'Tackling error and fraud in the Child and Working Tax Credits' available on the HMRC website at www.hmrc.gov.uk/news/index.htm.
	For numbers of prosecutions in 2004-05 I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 10 January 2006,  Official Report, columns 557-8W.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the cost/yield ratios for investigating tax credit  (a) fraud and  (b) error; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The information is not available in the format requested.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his Department's target is for reductions in the levels of tax credit  (a) fraud and  (b) error; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the evidence given to the Public Accounts Committee by the Acting Chairman of HMRC on 23 October 2006.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of how many software errors which potentially caused errors in tax credit payments there were in HM Revenue and Customs' computer systems in each reporting period since April 2003; what the latest figure is; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Wycombe (Mr. Goodman) on 31 January 2006,  Official Report, column 411-12W.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax credit overpayment made in  (a) 2003-04 and  (b) 2004-05 had been recovered by 30 September 2006; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The amounts recovered up to 31 March 2006 are shown in Table 6 of the Comptroller and Auditor General's Standard Report on the HM Revenue and Customs 2005-06 Accounts, which is available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/about/reports.htm.
	No estimates for 30 September 2006 are available except at disproportionate cost.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what total amount of tax credit fraud has been prevented since April 2001 by  (a) pre-payment and  (b) post-payment checks; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to HM Revenue and Customs 2005-06 Accounts: The Comptroller and Auditor General's Standard Report, available at http://www.nao.org.uk/

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes there have been to HM Revenue and Customs internal guidelines and procedures for appeals against disputed tax credit overpayments since 1 April 2004; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 9 October,  Official Report, column 299W.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to waive the repayment of tax credit overpayments where they have been caused by HM Revenue and Customs staff errors.

Dawn Primarolo: HMRC's policy on dealing with overpayments, including those caused by their mistake, is set out in their code of practice—COP 26—"What happens if we have paid you too much tax credit?".

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of trends in the use of means other than the e-portal to attempt credit fraud since the closure of the tax credit e-portal.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to HM Revenue and Customs 2005-06 Accounts: The Comptroller and Auditor General's standard report, available at http://www.nao.org.uk/

Taxation and Expenditure

Peter Viggers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the per capita  (a) tax revenue and  (b) Government expenditure was in (i) England, (ii) Scotland, (iii) Wales and (iv) Northern Ireland in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: As taxes are often collected centrally and cannot usually be directly attributed to countries within the UK, only limited estimates of tax revenue by country can be made. Estimates of stamp duties and income tax by country are available on the HMRC website:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/stamp_duty/menu.htm
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_distribution/menu-by-year.htm#311
	Population estimates are published on the ONS website:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=601&More=N
	The Scottish Executive produce estimates of tax revenues attributable to Scotland in their annual publication 'Government Expenditure and Revenue in Scotland'. The latest version can be found at:
	http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/47121/0020630.pdf.
	Per capita public spending that can be identified as benefiting a particular country or region is published in table 7.2 of Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (PESA) 2006, available at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/economic_data_and_tools/finance_spending_statistics/pes_publications/pespub_pesa06.cfm
	Public spending can be split into that which can be identified as benefiting a particular country or region and that which is for the benefit of the UK as a whole, for example defence spending. Therefore, the figures in PESA do not represent total public spending, which is not available by country.

Welsh Language

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department has adopted a Welsh language policy.

John Healey: Welsh language leaflets are produced on the pre-Budget report and Budget report.
	For other Treasury documents the Department, where possible, will make information available in the Welsh language when requested to do so.
	Officials are in discussion with the Welsh Language Board about a proposal for a Welsh language scheme.

WALES

Departmental IT

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many and what percentage of information technology projects undertaken by or for his Department since 2001 have been delivered  (a) over budget,  (b) after their original deadline,  (c) on budget,  (d) under budget,  (e) on their original deadline and  (f) ahead of their original deadline.

Peter Hain: Since 2001 the Wales Office has relied on IT services supplied first by the National Assembly for Wales, and then from April 2004 by the Department for Constitutional Affairs. No IT projects have been undertaken solely on behalf of the Wales Office in this period.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Benefits (EU Nationals)

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals from the EU accession states have applied for tax-funded, income-related benefits since May 2004, broken down by nationality.

James Plaskitt: The available information can be found in table 14 of the Accession Monitoring Report May 2004-June 2006, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

Household Statistics

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many children were recorded as living in households with no one in work in  (a) the UK,  (b) the North,  (c) South Tyneside and  (d) Jarrow constituency in each year since 1996.

James Plaskitt: Information is not available below Government Office Region or between the Government Office Region level and the national level.
	The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of children living in households where no-one is in work in: 
			  Spring  North West  North East  UK 
			 1996 306,000 144,000 2,383,000 
			 1997 324,000 123,000 2,214,000 
			 1998 339,000 133,000 2,216,000 
			 1999 317,000 135,000 2,156,000 
			 2000 274,000 118,000 1,980,000 
			 2001 266,000 108,000 1,915,000 
			 2002 280,000 96,000 1,978,000 
			 2003 286,000 122,000 1,892,000 
			 2004 249,000 105,000 1,861,000 
			 2005 237,000 89,000 1,814,000 
			 2006 220,000 83,000 1,744,000 
			  Notes: 1. Figures for the UK are taken directly from the ONS first release and have not been adjusted for unknown economic activity. Figures for the North West and North East have been corrected for unknown economic activity. 2. The Department's PSA 1b is based on a reduction in the proportion of children in workless households in Great Britain. 3. The Office for National Statistics produced a statistical first release titled "Work and Worklessness among households" in July 2006.  Source: ONS Household Labour Force Survey, spring quarters

Income Support

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was paid in income support in each year since 1996.

James Plaskitt: The available information is in the following tables.
	
		
			  Income support (including minimum income guarantee) expenditure in Great Britain (real terms, 2006-07 prices) 
			  £ million 
			   Income support for people: 
			   Over 60( 1)  Under 60 
			  Outturn:   
			 1995-96 5,094 16,775 
			 1996-97 4,827 13,451 
			 1997-98 4,637 10,069 
			 1998-99 4,335 9,790 
			 1999-2000 4,442 9,753 
			 2000-01 4,749 10,467 
			 2001-02 5,077 10,881 
			 2002-03 4,919 10,698 
			 2003-04 — 11,056 
			 2004-05 — 10,369 
			
			  Estimated outturn:   
			 2005-06 — 9,360 
			
			  Plans:   
			 2006-07 — 8,044 
			 (1) Including minimum income guarantee. 
		
	
	
		
			  Income support (including minimum income guarantee) expenditure in Great Britain (nominal) 
			  £ million 
			   Income support for people: 
			   Over 60( 1)  Under 60 
			  Outturn:   
			 1995-96 3,888 12,804 
			 1996-97 3,815 10,630 
			 1997-98 3,773 8,193 
			 1998-99 3,619 8,172 
			 1999-2000 3,781 8,302 
			 2000-01 4,095 9,026 
			 2001-02 4,486 9,615 
			 2002-03 4,484 9,753 
			 2003-04 — 10,344 
			 2004-05 — 9,914 
			
			  Estimated outturn:   
			 2005-06 — 9,137 
			  Plans:   
			 2006-07 — 8,044 
			 (1) Including minimum income guarantee.  Notes: 1. Minimum income guarantee was replaced by pension credit in October 2003. The 2002-03 outturn figures for those over 60 include some pension credit expenditure. 2. Figures are consistent with the Budget Report 2006. 3. Expenditure for 2005-06 reflects the latest benefit-by-benefit estimate of outturn, and not the amounts voted by Parliament.  Source: DWP Expenditure tables

Public Sector Pensions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what role his Department is playing in the reform of public sector pensions; which Minister has lead departmental responsibility; and if he will make a statement.

James Purnell: My Department does not have responsibility for the reform of public service pensions.
	The Chief Secretary of the Treasury has overall responsibility for signing off the final arrangements for schemes undergoing reform under the principles agreed under the Public Services Forum in October 2005.
	The regulation of the local government pension scheme is overseen by the Secretary of State of the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Winter Fuel Payments

Dennis Skinner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners received the winter fuel allowance in Bolsover constituency in  (a) 2002,  (b) 2003,  (c) 2004 and  (d) 2005.

James Purnell: The information is in the following table.
	
		
			   Payments made 
			 2002-03 18,960 
			 2003-04 19,230 
			 2004-05 19,190 
			 2005-06 19,380 
			  Notes: 1. Figures rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.  Source: Information Directorate, 100 per cent. Sample